Strange Brew

My Holiday Blessings To You

Margaret4560 — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 18:01:00 GMT

To all my clients, colleagues, friends and loved ones. I am wishing you the warmest of holidays.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

I will be available most of today, and again after 8:00 p.m. PST this evening and most of this weekend for your convenience. If you cannot reach me, please use the call back feature or make an appointment to speak with me when you are available.

Peace out friends,

Margaret

Are Romantic Comedies Ruining Relationships??

Margaret4560 — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 21:03:00 GMT

For a rare moment last evening, I was listening to "the Professor", I do that on occasion. After cutting through all the blatant macho B.S. I am usually able to gain some really good insight on the male perspective. For those of you who have no clue who "the Professor" is, allow me the enlightenment. The Professor, who really isn't a professor at all is a syndicated radio talk show host in sunny So-Cal, by the name of Tom Leykis. He is called "the Professor" because, in his own words, he teaches women how men think. For the most part, I agree with him. Probably for the simple fact, I was raised in an all male environment. I have 5 brothers and no sisters and have been surrounded predominantly by males since birth. I too have always had a strong grasp of how men think.

My very best friend the amazing LadyRaven_39, years ago before she knew me, made a comment to another friend about my being a bit gender confused. I never laughed so hard in my life. Number 1...... it's partially true. Oh I am fully a woman, no confusion there, I however, have always played in the mens world for as long as I can remember. Which is very much a bonus for my clients.

Just before I was ready to turn off the radio and head upstairs, he did this segment on the study, "Romantic Comedies Ruining Relationships". I actually did turn off the radio and went upstairs. But I turned it on again when I got upstairs. Why?? Because I totally agree with this study and have since long before that gawd awful movie, "Pretty Woman", came out in the 80's Now that I think about it, those unreal expectations, most likely began with the dawn of the bodice ripping romance novel revolution, mostly written from a womans unreal perception of what true love should be.

I got to thinking right before I wrote my blog on Searching For Perfection, In An Imperfect World, after seeing a Heather Locklear movie trailor. Another one of those "Yeah.... that happens in real life", moments to ponder. It's always the same regurgitated pile. Our heroine, and pick any one of them, Heather, Valerie Bertinelli, Terri Hatcher, etc., innocently gets dumped by that lout of a husband she married. Now she must continue bravely on, albeit broken hearted to make a success of her life. Then suddenly.... in walks the handsome savior, who can't quite get through the door at first due to the wall of pain she has put up. But he's persistant, this dashing stranger. Because he knows his love will heal all her life's woes, ad nauseum. Trust me.... most of the men I know would run into that wall of pain and say, "What's the point........ to many issues......... to much anger........NEXT!!!"

Then I hear the Professor bringing up this study relating how Romantic Comedies can spoil your love life. "Watching romantic comedies can spoil your love life, a study by a university in Edinburgh has claimed."

Dr Bjarne Holmes, Heriot Watt University, says, "The problem is that while most of us know that the idea of a perfect relationship is unrealistic, some of us are still more influenced by media portrayals than we realise" To read the full article, *~click here~*.

I recently read a joke that was sent to me by a male friend. It was a long list about how to make and keep your man or woman happy. For the women, the list had a great number of the most hard to achieve things imaginable on it. It just continued to get longer and longer. I had so many eyeball rolling moments and laughed all the way through it. It really makes one think though. A lot of women, unfortunately really believe the stuff on that list. Further that it will just magickally appear in the incredibly handsome, young and rich man, who really does love the woman. Of course some of them were ridicules points for humour's sake, but it did point out some pretty serious character flaws held onto by a lot of the ladies regarding unrealistic expectations.

I like the mens list, it was so much more simple to achieve. The list consisted of only these two things.

1. Show up naked.

2. Bring Food

Now how real is that.......... simple huh??? Now I'm not implying that is all men want, it was just a silly joke after all. What I am saying is that real life is not some smarmy Hollywood version of happily ever after. Even if and when you find the right mate and partner for you, don't just expect him to know what it is you want and need. Please ladies..... he's so NOT your savior, he is a normal man who does not have the ability to read your mind. He doesn't know what it is that you want unless you tell him. If you test him, test him and test him, you just cannot expect him to live "happily ever after" with you in your perfect little unrealistic Hollywood version of life. That's just way too much drama for him.

Relationships are hard enough, don't make it harder for him by holding on to what the most recent movie of the week wants you to believe. That version of love and life is a total myth, it's just advertising your box of Cheerios or maxi pads. Which by the way, the Professor clearly states over and over again, that his radio program is a means to sell advertising. The Professor does indeed sell lots of advertising.

Below are some more articles regarding the same study.

*~The Huffington Post~*.
*~Movies & T.V. On Squidoo~*.

Peace out friends,

Margaret

Thy Holy Bath

Margaret4560 — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 03:30:00 GMT

It's getting really close to the holiday season. The hustle and bustle of all that seasonal celebration. I know things in my life will be hectic, especially with a new grandbaby. No doubt yours will be hectic too. So I thought I would cover one of my favorite pass times. "Thy Holy Bath".

All the recipes here are hand blended. Using herbs, spices and other every day household items, you can make salts, herbal teas, fizzing crystals and bath bombs, for your pre-holiday bathing pleasure, ceremonial cleansings for the magickally inclined, or just to relax after a busy day. Not only that, these make great gift ideas.

I have always tried to live as naturally as I can and for the most part, I actually do OK. I especially love to soak in an herbal bath. I have also been lucky enough to come across some priceless recipes that not only smell great but are powerfully magickal at the same time. Not only that, the holidays for the most part are depressing and stressful and sometimes a good soak will not only recharge but bring great relief along with it.

Magickal Bathtime Fun

Several years ago, an attorney I worked for decided to give herself, and those of us on the adminstration staff a special treat. She signed us up for a class on the bath, with this great woman who worked at Casswell-Massey's Seattle store. Her name was Estelle and she was one of the warmest women I have ever come across, a true pleasure to get to meet. Her sense of humour matched her warmth and it was quite a day. I know, it's a real chick thing, but I will never forget her or her class.

In the hand out she gave us were the recipes and and the food and beverage suggested for your evening soak. To one who can soak for hours, this was a treasure trove almost as good as sex, great food or gold. Her recipes I will share as well as some of my own. I will also give some of her knowledge into the history of the bath which is always interesting.

A Bath is a gift for all your senses; A luxury you can afford.

Bath Lore Of Kings and Queens:

King John of England bathed once every three weeks.

Queen Isabella of Castile, Spain boasted that she'd only bathed twice in her lifetime: One at birth the other at marriage.

Henry the 4th formed the order of the bath thus assuring his knights would bathe once in their lifetime as part of the ceremony into knighthood.

Cleopatra

It has been said that Marc Anthony never "knew what hit him". Cleopatra had the sails of her boat so heavily scented that her arrival was detected long before her ship came into view. When the famed meeting of the two did occur, Cleopatra had filled the floor of her boudoir knee deep with rose petals. In honor of her infinite wisdom and charm, Estelle created this bath.

Cleopatra's Bath

Part 1: You'll need the following: 4 Hibiscus blossoms 1/4 tsp. each of Nutmeg, Cinnamon and Allspice. Steep in 2 cups of boiling water for 20 minutes in a non-metallic bowl.

Part 2: You'll need the following: 1 quart of 2% milk 1 cup honey 2 tbls. Sesame oil

Blend milk, Sesame oil and honey in a large pan. Heat on medium low till the honey is dissolved stirring well. Remove from heat. Add 1 tbls of vanilla and 12 drops rose oil. Let sit.

Part 3: Directions: Strain hibiscus mixture through a fine sieve. Add to milk mixture. Slowly pour into a filling tub. Note: A few red rose petals may be scattered on the water surface for visual effect. Use no more than one rose.

Suggested Music: Ravel's Bolero or Sitar music from India.
Suggested Drink: Warm milk with almonds and cardamon. You may add a shot of Baileys Irish Cream if you so desire.
Suggested Food: Mango slices wrapped with lightly smoked salmon; Brie cheese and dark rye bread.

When you turn on the faucet for your bath or shower always remember this:

Bathing about 150 years ago was not like it is today. You would have had to do th following for your bath.

1. Chop the wood.
2. Build a fire.
3. Draw the water from the well or creek.
4. Spread an oil cloth on the floor to catch the splashes.
5. Bring out the tub.
6. Fill the tub with water
7. Have the bath.
8. Bail the water out.
9. Clean up the mess or splashes.
10. Put the tub away.

Is it any wonder people did this only once a month?? Puritans scorned soap and water as being impure. Bathing was a dirty word; it was common knowledge that it was injurious to your health, promoted nudity and encouraged promiscuity.

Autumn Bath

"Don't compromise yourself; You're all you've got. "
~~Janis Joplin

You'll need the following: 1/2 cup of each: Sage, peppermint and lavender 1 cup of apple cider vinegar

Directions: Steep herbs in 4 cups of boiling water for 20 minutes. Strain and add to filling tub. Add vinegar.

Recomendations: Almond bath gel, Hops bath oil or Sandalwood bath salts
Suggested Music: Bach concertos for unaccompanied cello movements 3 & 4
Suggested Drink: Why, Spiced cider of course!
Suggested Foods: Japanese pear apples and sharp cheddar cheese

A Great Gift Idea

Make a bath herb vinegar for friends and loved ones by steeping a 1/2 cup each of sage, peppermint and lavender in a quart of apple cider vinegar in a covered container in a warm sunny place. Shake at least once a day. After 2 weeks time strain and bottle in a decorative bottle and place 1 sprig each of the herb itself and seal.

Use 1/2 to 1 cup vinegar in the bath for a skin softening experience next to none. Don't be afraid to try different herbs as well.

Winter Bath

"We can do no great things; only small things with great love."
~~Mother Theresa

You'll need the following: 2 tbls. each: clove and allspice 1 tbls. each: ginger and nutmeg The peel of two oranges and one apple

Recommendations: Apple bath gel Italian olive oil foaming bath or freesia bath salts.
Suggested Music: Jean-Michel Jarre music De Chine
Suggested Drink: Mexican hot chocolate, spike it with cinnamon liqueur or Two Fingers Tequila, if your really brave try all three together
Suggested Foods: Cinnamon rolls (and those oranges and apples that you peeled! - waste not want not)

Bath Salt Base

1 cup Epsom salt, 1 cup rock or dead sea salt, 1 cup sodium bi-carbonate (baking soda) Put in jar and shake well. Store in a dry cool place.

For each bath: 3 heaping Tbls. of salt base, 10 drops essential oil for desired manifestation, 3 drops food coloring for desired manifestation.

Stir together with a non-metal fork. While stirring empower or chant for your desired manifestation. Add to your bath and concentrate on your ceremony or ritual.

Your bath can be for just plain relaxaton as well, so get creative with scents and their magickal purposes; or just a good old fashioned soak. This also makes another good gift idea.

Whether you give a lot to a special loved one or a little to a lot of special loved ones. Either or, you have a truly divine hand-blended gift to give that comes straight from the heart. Believe me the recipients will thank you for them. Don't forget to make a card for them with their bathing instructions.

Fizzing Bath Bombs

I love these things for the simple fact that I turn into a kid with one in my hand. The excitement of seeing the water fizz and how the bomb gets smaller and smaller like a sparkler on 4th of July. I feel like I am 5 again. So when I found this recipe I was pleased none the less. This is another one that would make great gifts for loved ones. My daughter steals mine every chance she gets. Enjoy these they are better than what you can find in any store.

1/2 cup sodium bi-carbonate (baking soda), 1/4 cup cornstarch, 1/4 cup citric acid (sour salt), 1 tbls. almond oil (you can use other emolliant oils as well; the almond is just a suggestion), 1 tbls. distilled water. 10 drops essential oil or 1/2 tsp. of fragrance oil of your choice to fit your desires, optional, but much more pleasant. Color if you want and I have been even known to throw in some ground herb as well.

Mix all the dry ingredients first then mix the liquids and pour in. It'll fizz but don't worry it's fine, just mix it really really well. Mold into 2 balls, pack tightly and let air and dry for a couple of hours. Then wrap in saran wrap with a raffia tie. They will crumble if left out so keep them dry and wrapped.

Fizzy Bath Crystals

For those of you who have no wish to make the bombs, here's a recipe for the bath crystals.

8 oz. wt. cornstarch, 8 oz. wt. citric acid (sour salt), 16 oz wt. sodium bi-carbonate (baking soda), up to one tsp. fragrance oil or 10 drops essential oil.

Mix cornstarch and citric acid together thoroughly. Add essential or fragrance oil as desired. Blend in baking soda and package. Use 1/4 to 1/2 cup per bath. Enjoy.

Even if you don't give some out as gifts; this gives you a good basis for your own enjoyment. My advice however, is just this....... It is always nicer to enjoy these with your cherished partner.

Happy Bathing!!!

Peace out friends,

Margaret

Searching For Perfection In An Imperfect World

Margaret4560 — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 00:02:00 GMT

Just what exactly is perfection??? It's a silly word really, and I put that word usually in front of the phrase "soul mate" as in the "perfect soul mate". Seriously.... I try very hard not to get irritated when I hear the words "perfect partner" or "soul mate". You can just imagine my horror of finding out I am; what somebody thinks of as they're perfect partner. I mean...... I look in the mirror everyday, I am deeply deeply flawed and I know it. I'm thinking to myself, "what is wrong with this person", having the nerve to accuse little ole me of being perfect?

If I were perfect... I would cease to exist. I would have no lessons I needed to learn, so why would I have chosen to make yet one more earth bound journey to experience this thing we call the life path? I assure you... I am not here to be a perfect partner to you, no my friend..... I am afraid not.

Soul mate??? My friend.... you may be one of many that surround me just as I could be one of many for you, but I am certainly not the be all end all, reason that you breathe, nor are you my life force. I doubt seriously we will be walking off into the sunset hand in hand anytime soon, but if we do.... I'll appreciate that golden moment for what, where or when it is.

We have lessons to learn from each other, the majority of them will most likely be incredibly fun growth experiences but unfortunately.... some of them may be a bit challenging. The good news is we have been blessed with chemistry and attraction. What a wonderful way of learning our lessons together and I have to admit it does make those challenges much easier.

I will appreciate the path that we are presently on, with the hope that we can grow together, into what can be a lifetime of happiness. Although I accept the reality that it could also end in a month. We shall help each other teach what needs to be taught and learn what needs to be learned. I vow to never look at you as perfect. I will nonetheless, view you as human, in hopes that you will see me in the same light for as long as the love shall last.

Peace out friends,

Margaret

Death and Dying

Margaret4560 — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 04:41:00 GMT

This seems to be somewhat of a dark day for me. I've been consumed with death and dying. I guess that would make sense. I received an e-mail today from one of my very best friends. He was shocked to learn that his ex-girlfriend and mother of his youngest son passed away in her sleep Saturday night. She was only 34 and as I see it... much to young to make that journey. She leaves behind her husband and children. I was heartbroken for him as he is devistated.

I always find myself some what envious of those who have crossed before us, a morbid fascination with death it seems. Let me clarify..... no, I do not wish to die, certainly not at this time in my life. I spent a year and a half in suicidal depression and when I came out at the other end of the tunnel, I was happy to have survived.

I slept, I cried and I self medicated. There wasn't a day that went by that I did not feel like doing some home redecorating, i.e. spraying lovely grey matter all over my bedroom walls. I just kept seeing my beautiful daughter's face and feeling her devistation at an act that I might have selfishly executed. So I am happy to wait until that time the Goddess wishes for my return. Life is now a very precious commodity.

I no longer fear death as it does complete the circle of life. The envy comes from a need to know. Not just to know, but to have confirmation, that first hand experience of life after death. I know what I've read and heard, but I want to see it with my own eyes, or spirit as the case may be.

When we lose people we love it is very hard, further complicated by young people dying in their sleep for no apparent reason. Accidental death, senseless murder etc. With each passing, comes a reminder of just how precious and abbrieviated any of our lives can be. It is essential to let those close friends and family members know just exactly how you feel as much as humanly possible. We just never know when our ticket's up.

This further authenticates the old saying "Never go to bed angry" as you might not wake up. As was the case with my friends former lady. I did not know her but pray for her a safe journey to the Summerland. My prayers and sympathy go out to her family and friends.

R.I.P.
Desirae Walters
1974 - 2008

Please send your prayers to her surviving family.

Peace out friends,

Margaret

In The Hunt For Love

Margaret4560 — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 22:30:00 GMT

I've found that the realm of dating can be a peculiar and scarey ritual for some people. The constant search for the right companion. That can be so depressing, downright intimidating even. But there is an even stranger phenomena out there that I call, "putting all your eggs in one basket" It's quite simple really..... the choice of dating only one person that you're not committed or exclusive with, but hoping for that exclusive committment.

Let's say you've met a nice person, interesting on many levels. Smart, funny, easy on the eyes, somebody you'd really like to get to know better. Then smart, funny, easy (also known as SFE), calls you up and you make plans to go out. SFE arrives for your date on time, smells and looks absolutely "smokin" right down to his/her minty sweet breath. You know this will probably be one of the best dates ever and as it turns out.... it is. At the end of the evening you both discuss what a great time you've had and make plans to do it again very soon. All is good with the world.

You go out a few more times and everything is still going well, but there is no talk yet of an exclusive committment. When brought up, SFE changes the subject to a much lighter discussion. Regardless, you decide to take yourself off the market anyway to see where things might go with this person. Forgetting the key phrase "to see where things might go" with the emphasis on the word "might".

There is nothing like having a great connection with the right person, but how do you really know if somebody is the right person after only a few dates? OK so SFE has a million and one great qualities, that's absolutely fantastic. But SFE still will not commit to anything permanent with you or anybody for that matter. He/she just isn't ready to take that big step and commit. You however, have placed all your eggs in one basket and have kept them there.

Visualize if you will, a year or two down the road and SFE is still telling you......"you're a great person, but I'm just not ready for a solid committment." At the very least, it is heartbreaking to devote so much time, to ONLY this individual who remains ever the "committment phobe". I want you to think about all those expected phone calls that never came. Those weekends home alone while SFE was out doing whatever. The lonely holidays etc.

Alright.... you love him/her. Understandable with all those amazing qualities, but it seems you've fallen in love with the emotionally bankrupt and still you continue to place even more eggs in your little basket of love. SFE is not worried, he/she knows exactly how you feel and furthermore, knows you aren't going anywhere. You and your basket of eggs are waiting right there by that silent phone, hurting and most likely disappointed and angry. You've finally come to the conclusion that you have wasted so much time. And you know what??? You have, because you've kept all your eggs in one little basket.

Dating really doesn't have to be scary or intimdating. Chances are you'll meet many interesting people besides SFE the committment phobe if you just broaden your horizons a little. There is an old saying "Nobody wants to eat at an empty resturuant". Now if you're still sitting there and waiting for SFE to commit with you, then you are that empty resturaunt.

Now the cure for this crazy phenomenon is just as simple as the phenomenon itself. Keep those dating options open, break those eggs, fry them up, scramble them, but don't keep them all in the same basket, diversify. After all they turn rotten if not cooked. Get out and meet other people. You are, like SFE, still a free agent and therefore can date others. Chances are you can meet many other great people and maybe even find the one great individual who will commit and whose to say it's not SFE. But you'll never know what good things can happen if you keep all your eggs in one basket.

Peace out friends,

Margaret

We're This Close

Margaret4560 — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 04:55:00 GMT

Here we are just days away from probably one the most high profile and most watched elections in my lifetime. Don't worry, I will not try to influence your vote in any way, shape or form. I am still very on the fence with my personal choices. Besides my political saavy is virtually non existant. But I have found myself wishing over the last 6 months that this election would be over already. With all the two party garbage, mudslinging, both democratic and republican effigies, death threats, failed assasination attempts etc. That horrid list continues to grow by the day. Fear tactics, all kinds of crazy diabolical things I've heard and read.

But I honestly have to admit that over the last week, I have read some amazing points regarding both presidential candidates, well written without any mudslinging to the opposing candidates, just well thought out and intelligent diatribes. Frankly I was impressed with those postings and to the ladies who wrote them, good job.

Just the other morning I was listening to an interview with Henry Rollins, and a lot of what he said made so much sense to me. Not about who to vote for, but why to vote the way I will. For those of you who do not know who Henry Rollins is, here's a quick bio for him. He was the enigmatic front man for an underground cult status punk band in the 80's called Black Flag. So now your asking........ "What does some former little punk rocker have to say that would sway the way anybody would choose to vote??" Those of you who are fans and know of Henry Rollins, are smiling and know exactly why I would even bother listening to him.

I have to admit that in his punk days, he would probably be somebody that I might steer clear from, but only if I did not understand what his message was all about. A colorful character indeed is Mr. Rollins. After Black Flag, he fronted the Rollins band, gained acting experience, has both a television and radio program, does stand up comedy, has written and published books of poetry and the list goes on. Most importantly he is a spoken word artist.

Listening to this outspoken, intelligent and engaging man with the hypnotically deep stare, has always been a treat for me. He made this comment in the interview, which I thought was quite profound, "polititions spend so much time trying to get every one to like them, I dont' think they can really move things around". His position is clear which side he will vote for. Not that I agree with his choices, but his reasons are clear.

He went on to say that it doesn't matter who wins, after the election we may not have the candidate of our choice in office but as Americans, we'll pick up the pieces and move on. The solution is not the polititions who are in office, but the "concerned people with a conscience is who will save America." This is something I as well have strongly believed since the fiasco surrounding the 2000 election.

A great example of this was the victims of hurricane Katrina, Fema pretty much failed in that sector and I didn't see a lot of goverment helping to put that great city back together again. So who is rebuilding New Orleans??? the American people, that's who. The college kids on Spring and Christmas break who show up with cans of paint and drywall. It's the Americans volunteering their time, because we can't wait around for the polititions to make the changes, Americans ARE the solution.

I admit that I am not crazy about either presidential candidate and I have said many times, that I doubt it will really matter who gets the top spot in the white house. Who ever it is has a very tough road ahead of them. I however, plan to vote defensively against the person or party I do not want in office.

It is the people of this great country who have made it what it is today, and we will move forward because united we stand, divided we fall. No matter who wins the fact remains, I am and will always be damn proud to be an American and as a proud American I choose to be part of the solution. Remember the whole world is watching, now get out there and VOTE!!!

Peace out friends,

Margaret

They're Too Into You...... a.k.a. WTF????

Margaret4560 — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 23:41:00 GMT

Cosmopolitan magazine recently published an article about the 5 reason's why men break up with women. I've got nothing against Cosmo. I read it religiously in my 20's. It was the chick mag rag of the 70's practically the dating bible. These days I only look at the cover on the news stands. After seeing the same old regurgitated articles updated for the new reader, I pretty much don't feel the need to have that one on my coffee table any longer. I most likely read them all about 30 years ago.

About a week ago I was looking at my yahoo homepage and I came across this article courtesy of "Cosmo" 2008, "Why Guys Dump Girls They Dig". Now I'm not going to post that article one more time again, I'm just not a big fan of repetition. Besides another one of Keen's great advisors posted it a few days back. If you do choose to read the full article you may *~click here~*. The 5 reasons listed are as follows:

1. They're Not Finished Playing The Field

2. Most Guys Feel Compelled To Put As Many Relationship Conquests Under Their Belt As Possible

3. They're Fixated On the Worst Case Scenerio

4. They're In Like, Not Love.

5. They're Too Into You.

Now every time you try to put "guy speak" into girl language, you're going to have a big problem. Let me explain. I have no idea who the original author is. I did try to find out that information and it is only listed as Cosmopolitan 2008 on both Yahoo and the Cosmopolitan website. I can only assume it's a woman, but I freely admit I could be wrong. They did give credit to the photographer who shot the hunky model who posed for the picture though. If I ever do come across the original author, I will most certainly post it. If anybody does know who it is, please feel free to pass on that information.

Cosmopolitan has always been a magazine geared towards women, for that I do not fault them. However, there are times the truth doesn't need to be distorted into some silly little "make women feel good fluff piece". Truth needs to be blunt and real. Sorry friends, I've always shot straight from the hip and I don't see that changing anytime soon.

There was a major point in this article that I honestly have to disagree with. Number 5.... They're Too Into You...... Now I read this to my twin, we're not blood related but we think identical. We both looked at each other and said what a crock of.......... Then we laughed about it for a good couple of minutes.

I'm leaving numbers 3 & 4 alone because they're self explanatory and pretty much right on the money.

Don't worry ladies, the codicil comes with combining reasons 1, 2, & 5. Numbers 1 & 2 are really the same thing anyway, although number 2 is most likely geared towards men between the ages of 18 - 35. Now let's talk about reason number 5, and why I have a challange with that one.

Ladies, ladies ladies, some simple but straight forward truth here. Men do not dump women they really like, no matter what Cosmo says, it just isn't done. If number 3 applies, he'll maybe be open about working through those issues, but still that's only a maybe. At least for a little while. If number 4 is the reason, it's pretty much just a physical thing for him and it never would have lasted to begin with. If a man is really into the relationship with you, it will be worth it for him to want to work through those challenges with you unless numbers 1 & 2 or both apply. I guarantee you, you will not be dumped because he is "Too into you".

I'd like to share this example with you. Just this morning a local radio station I was listening to, was discussing this very article. One man stated that he actually had dumped a lady he was really into. He explained that this was a lady he should have married and that he probably made the biggest mistake of his life. He spoke of this tremendous heartbreak but he really felt he had no other choice. You see he was still looking at and couldn't keep his hands off other women. Now I do not know this man's age at the time of these actions, but I can only imagine he was still pretty young, still needing to sow his wild oats. He also said he most likely did this lady a big favor.

Another man in the conversation asked why he did not try to reconnect with her and he went on to say that he did reconnect with her and rekindled the love they lost. But it just wasn't the same.

He then said. Once you wreck a car, it just never drives the same. Once a surfboard is broken, you can epoxy glue it back together, but it'll never ride the same way again. I just love mens truth. It's a total reality check.

Peace out friends,

Margaret

Meet Gabriel Andrew

Margaret4560 — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 21:42:00 GMT

Due to a comedy of errors, Kahla and I missed the birth of her brother and my beautiful grandson, Gabriel, by 5 minutes. Few things in life ever render me speechless, but the look on my beautiful daughter's face just minutes after giving birth was that moment. Looking at those gorgeous green cat eyes and the serene look on her face, is now forever frozen in my memory.

Welcome to this strange place we call the world Gabriel. Born Sept. 15, 2008 at 8:38 p.m. Weighing in at 6 lbs. 8 oz. and 19.5 inches long. My little Virgo, Aires Moon and Taurus Rising.

As I entered the room, my beloved Princess looked up at me and said "Mom..... look at what I did". And so begins the life of my very first grandchild.

My daughter is PreciousJulliett here on Keen and she is doing great. We're at home now and as soon as she is a little more settled, she will be able to once again take your calls.

Sissy and Gabriel

Big Brother

The Family

My Princess and her little man.

Life is good :))

Peace out friends,

Margaret

Can A Man Really Be A Victim??

Margaret4560 — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 03:26:00 GMT

Domestic violence is one of societies major issues and understandably so. Violence against anybody is indeed criminal and should never be tolerated, hidden or covered up. I however, am going to talk about the flip side of the coin. The male victim of domestic violence. Sadly this crime often goes unreported, due to a variety of reasons. Unfortuately, it's been a widely held assumption that women are always the victim. That "evil man" is the perpetrator.

According to the National Center For Victims of Crime, as many as 43% of the males reported being the victim of violence, by a dating partner at least once. About.com, Men's Health says,

"Every year in the U.S., about 3.2 million men are victims of assault by an intimate partner. Most assaults are of a relatively minor nature such as pushing, shoving, slapping, or hitting, though many are more serious - some end in homicide."

Those are just the reported numbers. ~*Read the full article click here*~. In February 2003, the Bureau of Justice Statistics published this very telling Crime Data brief, ~*Click Here*~.

Years ago, I was an Adminstrative Assistant in the law field, I heard so many stories from men about the crazy things their wives or girlfriends were violently doing to them. I can honestly say, at least 99.9% of these stories were true. Seeing the bruises, witness testimony, even the intimate partner's admission of the assault. Like a badge of honor, some of these admissions from the ladies came complete with a gloating smile.

Steve's Story

I've known my friend Steve now for 30 plus years. An amazing individual, his skill in architecture and carpentry is very reminiscent of Frank Lloyd Wright and most definitely of the same caliber. The ideas that flow from him are "gifts" from many planes of existance. It wouldn't surprize me if he was channeling Mr. Wright himself. His work is that good. Every time I walk into his house my jaw drops as I view the changes he has made over the years.

Now I've seen this home gutted on many occasions, only to come back a year or two later and view a place that should be gracing the pages of Sunset or Modern Home magazine, if not the cover. This man is unbelievably, brilliantly talanted. Not to mention that even now, in his mid-fifties, he is still "drop dead" handsome, but the same sweet humble man, I've always known him to be. I love him like a brother and know him almost as well.

Several years ago, he was involved with a woman who had some major drug and mental issues. The years he was involved with her, I did not see as much of him as I would have liked to, but did run into him occasionally. I ran into both of them together once and she happily announced that she was pregnant. I was very happy about the baby part, just not so happy about the mom part. There was always something about her, that I just knew, was off. Steve of course, did not need another person saying "Dude; what the hell are you doing...." blah blah blah. I am sure he had enough of that going on with all his male buddies. I just kept my opinions to myself.

One afternoon while he was visiting me, he started to tell me about some legal problems he was facing. This woman had accused him of domestic violence. Now the clairvoyant side of me, never in all the years that I had known him, gave me one red flag that this man had a violent nature. My barometer for B.S. is really quite good and not once did I ever catch a glimpse of anything that would be cause for concern. So I psychically scanned him anyway. I took a step back and out of myself and went in deep I really wanted to be objective. Upon completion of this psychic scan, I looked him directly in the eye and said, "That's bull-shit, YOU ARE NOT a violent man"

He then went on to tell me that when he arrived home, she was "this crazy woman", she flew at him in a rage, most likely drug induced, and proceeded to slug him over and over again while she clung to his back. She hit his face, neck, and arms. She scratched and hit his back several times and when law enforcement arrived he was the one that was bruised and battered. When he told the police that he was just trying to get her off of him, he was taken to jail and served with a temporary restraining order. This was only one incident as there were several more.

Steve continued to try to work it out because of his infant daughter to no avail. The incidents continued to occur and eventually he was served with a permanent order for protection. He was restricted from not only his daughter, but the home he had so lovingly refurbished many times. The toll on my friend was indeed a heavy one. Legally having to defend yourself against "false" abuse charges is both time consuming and costly. Not only did he have to continue to pay the mortgage for some place he wasn't even allowed to live any longer, he had additional rent to cover as well.

Steve was and still is very lucky, he received some great legal advice and fought this battle with everything he had. He WON....... he regained his home back, fought all the charges against him and most importantly, he took custody of his beloved daughter and she is a happy healthy teenager today. The abuser is no where to be found as they have not had contact from her in several years. I always knew he was innocent, in fact, I introduced him to one of my best friends 10 years ago and they are still dating today. I never would have set him up with one of my best girls if he really was abusive. Her response to this blog is......"Good, Steve's story needs to be told."

Unfortunately the fact remains that women are "far more likely" to call the police even if they are at fault. They know how the police will usually react to domestic violence. 99% of the time, it is the man who is either arrested or at the very least asked to leave his home and sometimes on a permenant basis. The general public needs to become painfully aware that domestic violence is anything but a gender specific crime. It is high time for the human race to get out of this "man bad, woman good" mentality and face reality. Women are not always the victims of domestic violence. Those that are abusing spouses, kids or intimate partners, need to be brought to task. Way to many men, husbands, sons, brothers and friends are suffering in silence. Domestic violence against anybody is a crime whether they be, women, children or men. It's unfortunate however, that most men will have to rely on private counseling services as opposed to community resources for breaking the cycle of violence.

The National Domestic abuse hotline 1-(800)-799-SAFE

The National Child abuse hotline 1-(800)4-A-CHILD

The following is taken from the Oregon Counseling.org handout, you'll find the link below:

What Are The Characteristics Of Women Who Are Abusive And Violent?

The characteristics of men or women who are abusive fall into three categories.

Alcohol Abuse. Alcohol abuse is a major cause and trigger in domestic violence. People who are intoxicated have less impulse control, are easily frustrated, have greater misunderstandings and are generally prone to resort to violence as a solution to problems. Women who abuse men are frequently alcoholics.

Psychological Disorders. There are certain psychological problems, primarily personality disorders, in which women are characteristically abusive and violent toward men. Borderline personality disorder is a diagnosis that is found almost exclusively with women. Approximately 1 to 2 percent of all women have a Borderline Personality disorder. At least 50% of all domestic abuse and violence against men is associated with woman who have a Borderline Personality disorder. The disorder is also associated with suicidal behavior, severe mood swings, lying, sexual problems and alcohol abuse.

Unrealistic expectations, assumptions and conclusions. Women who are abusive toward men usually have unrealistic expectations and make unrealistic demands of men. These women will typically experience repeated episodes of depression, anxiety, frustration and irritability which they attribute to a man's behavior. In fact, their mental and emotional state is the result of their own insecurities, emotional problems, trauma during childhood or even withdrawal from alcohol. They blame men rather than admit their problems, take responsibility for how they live their lives or do something about how they make themselves miserable. They refuse to enter treatment and may even insist the man needs treatment. Instead of helping themselves, they blame a man for how they feel and believe that a man should do something to make them feel better. They will often medicate their emotions with alcohol. When men can't make them feel better, these women become frustrated and assume that men are doing this on purpose.

Please follow the links below for more information:

~*Oregon Counseling*~

~*Fathers for Life*~

~*Battered Men.com*~

~*PreciousJulliett's blog titled "Abusers"*~

Peace out friends,

Margaret

A Challenging Rite Of Passage Now Completed.... Finally!!

Margaret4560 — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 21:02:00 GMT

It's been a good long while since I have blogged. Not everyone likes it when I blast out of my obnoxious "pie hole". But here today....... I write about my beloved daughter a.k.a. My Little Princess. I'm really quite obsessed with my daughter, mind you... in a good way. She's 25 now, newly married and with a child on the way. My first grandchild. We both doubt she will ever have another. This one was a surprize, but not really.

When she hit puberty, her life became somewhat of a downward spiral. I would guess; that is pretty normal, especially for teenagers. But Princess got hit a little harder with life than most normal teens. Without too much detail here, I will only say that a Father's love is so very detrimental to a young girls self esteem. Princess' father made it very clear back then, that he wished I were dead and that she was never born. >>>Pat's self on back and says........"Girl, you sure know how to pick em", LOL.

Inspite of everything, Princess and I were always meant to be together. I never wanted children when I was younger. I guess I was just too dang selfish. However, the Goddess in her infinite Wisdom, will always have her say. When Princess was conceived, my life changed in an instant. I never knew I could love somebody soooooooo much. Even during those difficult teen years. She is about as head strong as it gets, more so than I. Even though I prefer the term tenacious, my mother quite often refers to me as pig headed. Hey..... she could be right.

During those tumultuous times, school became pretty unbearable. Much to my disappointment, and believe me..... I tried everything to keep her in school still, she gave up. I had always told Princess that school was not an option, but mandatory. I didn't care how she did it as long as she did it. Youthful naivete 9 times out of 10 views conforming to society as being imprisoned by society, but only while they are young. A few years go by and those altruistic views become painful reminders of silly teen screw ups.

Being the overindulgent parent that I am, (Hey.... they don't come with a manual), I let it slide under the premise of one day, she'll understand that it was a mistake on her part. Well my friends, that day is now here and even though it took a little longer than I had hoped, Princess now has her high school completion certificate in the form of a G.E.D. Now she can finally move on with her education, which includes both nursing and culinary arts. She has even expressed her desire for being a pediactric physician. Those doors have now swung open very widely for her.

Congratulations to my beautiful daughter and very best friend. You did it girl and I am very proud of you!!!

Love Ma' ma <<<<< knowing how much you hate that :))

Peace out friends,

Margaret

PSYCHICS REAL vs. PHONY!!!

Margaret4560 — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 21:29:00 GMT

Psychics

Real vs. Phony

There's been a lot of buzz around recently regarding the ethics or lack thereof concerning advisors selling spells for ungodly amounts of money. It saddens me to see that these people are actually still doing this kind of thing. We all know a spell isn't going to help you lose weight, but changing your eating habits and getting some exercise will. Gaining financial freedom or getting your lover back with a spell??? OK the power of suggestion is indeed powerful, but what happens when doubt comes in?? You may very well be able to chant naked over a candle while turning counterclockwise and taking ten steps backwards to bring your lover back. But sadly the core problem of the break up will still be there and most likely Prince Charming will be gone again very shortly. Not to mention that the selling of spells is a strict VIOLATION against the Keen community rules.

The talented, askdrdonna wrote an amazing blog about shifts in energy and it's a great read, check it out. ~*Click Here*~.Hopefully, It will make as much sense to you as it did to me.

I am also going to share with you an article I wrote over 4 years ago for my old website regarding phony psychic scams. I sincerely hope that this will help you determine wisely who it is you wish to speak with.

Psychics.... Real vs. Phony

How To Tell The Difference

Unfortunately the psychic industry has taken some pretty hard knocks due to the unethical practices of certain individuals who see potential friends/clients as targets. Sometimes the difference can be pretty hard to spot. At first they seek to gain your confidence, then after they have your confidence, they move in for the kill so to speak.

Those who claim 100% accuracy

Anyone who makes the claim of 100% accuracy should be avoided, unless you have absolute total proof from trusted friends and relatives. Only the "Divine Source" (God/Goddess/Supreme being) is 100% accurate. It is humanly impossible to be able to connect with every one you speak with. There will always be energies you do not connect with. If you happen to be speaking to a psychic you don't feel comfortable with, politely say thank you and end the conversation immediately.

The one thing to remember is that the human race is blessed/cursed with free will and said free will can alter the future outcome in a heartbeat.

Those who claim to reunite lovers within 24 hrs. (for a price of course)

Although I have been a practitioner of the magickal arts since childhood, I adamently refute those who use these practices to make money off the masses. My basic view is, magick is not to be played with. Casting spells to force or manipulate any person to do another's bidding goes against my moral beliefs and borders on the dark arts.

To put it simply, if a person doesn't want to be in a certain relationship with another, it is better to let them go with love and light, then to try to force them to be where they don't want to be. Wouldn't you rather be with somebody who is with you because they actually really love you???

Those who claim you have been "cursed" or living under a "dark cloud" asking again for compensation

Never send any money, credit card numbers, gift certificates etc. when asked to do so for removal of said evil influences. To do so unfortunately, will only worsen your plight. When readers resort to these types of practices, they prey on their marks over and over again to the tune of thousands of dollars.

I have always been amazed and repulsed by these practices. These people should be avoided at all costs. I refer to them as charlatans, theives and snake oil sellers, not to mention they are asking for themselves, some pretty crappy Karmic retribution. I veiw myself and my readings as professionally ethical and live by those standards. Most importantly, The only spells or dark energy that affects your life is that which you allow to.

Those who offer to sell you spells or "annointed" candles for exhorbitant prices

I am a candle artisan and I know first hand how some un-ethical individuals mark up their prices on what they refer to as spells/annointed candles. Sometimes these candles are sold for hundreds of dollars for one single candle. Don't be suckered into buying one of these. You will be out your large amount of money, having paid for false hope. My advice??? Don't pay anymore then the regular amount for any candle annointed or not, even if so and so tries to convince you that your prayers will not be answered unless you do. You can purchase candles anywhere, or use candles that you already have. What makes annointed candles what they are is the energy that is believed to have been put on them. How do you know that any candle you buy has truly been annointed. Chances are; you weren't there during the alledged annointing. You really don't know.

I suggest just this. buy plain and simple regular everyday candles and annoint them yourself. If you don't know the right colors, have or know the proper oils or herbs, use a regular white candle and annoint it with olive oil. Not to say that there isn't proper colors, herbs or oils for specific spell/prayer purposes there most certainly is. You must always remember that the magick comes directly from the intent of the user, so wouldn't the user benefit more from using they're own energies to bring about that which they truly desire? Only the user is in control of they're own destiny.

P.T. Barnum once made a statement similar to...... There's a sucker born every minute. Unfortunately it happens to be true. They're alot of individuals out there who are willing to part with they're hard earned cash and plenty of unethical individuals more than willing to take it from them. These individuals prey on the misery of others and their only thought is on their own pocket books. Always remember....

Buyer Beware!!!

Peace out friends,

Margaret

Why Do We Do This To Ourselves??

Margaret4560 — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 08:18:00 GMT

First of all... I have to say, I absolutely love my brother, he's such a great guy. Out of the 5 brothers I have, Andy is my favorite and closest. We are 10 months apart, with him being my elder. But I have noticed something about him that disturbs me to such a great extent. Mostly, because I have looked in the mirror and have seen these traits within myself, as well as some of my closest friends and clients. Oh sure, I could have copped to the truth and made this all about me, but it's so much more fun to pass the buck and put the blame all on him. Payback for all of his childhood squealing to mommy disquised as protecting and keeping me safe, LOL!! By the way brother..... you will always have my thanks, like you have always had my back.

I know when I explain these traits of his (mine), a lot of you may have that bulb in your head light up and shine very brightly. He's a very charming Gemini, and when I say charming, you'll find his picture next to the word in the new Webster's dictionary. While we were growing up the girls in junior high and high school would seek out my friendship just for the chance that he may pick one of them to date. The epitome of "very cool dude"!!! All my girlfriends today in fact still "love" Andy.

I wrote a profile for him once on a dating site and gave him the username of "AndyPanda" with the catch phrase of "Just bad enough" explaining that although his bad boy days were long over, there was still just enough bad boy in him to make it interesting. All true as well.

Now unlike me... he's not a casual dater, he pretty much wears his heart on his sleeve. And ladies...... he's such a great boyfriend that I have such a hard time believing his idiot ex wives/girlfriends have actually broken up with him. OK OK, so I'm a bit predjudiced, but seriously, when I see and hear about some of the things he has done for the ladies, I wish that all ladies could end up with such a kind and loving man. And now I humbly correct an error as was pointed out to me by none other than the star of this sessions blog. Andy did infact divorce his wives. But I might also humbly add that he is still on good terms with them both. I know at least one of them doesn't deserve it.

So now we come to the light bulb part...... his girlfriend broke up with him about a week and a half ago, just before Valentines day. That's rough on any and all of you romantics out there. Now what made this especially sad for me, is how hard he's taking it. A few months back we discussed this relationship quite extensively. He did admit to me that he really didn't see this as a lasting thing. He hung in there though and treated her with both kindness and respect. He was there when her car was stolen and helped her get the rental car. When her car was found and returned, he basically put it back together for her. He got a close friend of his to rent her his rental house and even helped her move into it, and still..... she pretty callously dumped him.

He did what a lot of my clients, close friends and even myself have done. We take all the blame and tear ourselves to pieces. "If only I were better looking" "If only I were younger", "If only I had a better body", If only had more money" etc. etc. etc. This list can go on for ever.

The truth is...... sometimes through no fault of our own, relationships just don't work out and the Universe has most likely done us a HUGE favor. Of course we can't see it at the time because being dumped hurts like hell. When he called me and asked me, "was he really that bad of a person??" I replied with this piece of advice that I will share with not only myself, but with all of us who beat ourselves down due to the actions or inactions of others "WE ARE WORTH SO MUCH MORE THAN WHAT WE DO TO OURSELVES!!!"

I am here and available for you 7 days a week and on most days 24 hours. I am both happy and able to help you find the clarity you seek.

Peace out friends,

Margaret

The Marketable age

Margaret4560 — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 01:30:00 GMT

Just what exactly is the "marketable age"?? According to radio host Tom Leykis and his disciples/drones of "Leykis 101", this term applies only to women who are under the age of 30 and below. His belief is that women have an invisible expiration date, that activates on the day she turns 30. Now I do not really find this to be shocking, but what I do find shocking is the droves of people who actually buy into this tripe.

First off, I have absolutely NO gripe with the Professor or his radio program. As a matter of fact I used to listen to the Tom Leykis show on a regular basis until they pulled it up here in the greater Seattle area. Tom Leykis himself claims that his show's specific purpose is to sell advertising. This show has indeed sold millions in advertising. In fact Tom Leykis is a multi millionaire because of his ability to sell advertising. You really have to appreciate his rags to riches story. The basis behind this disgustingly materialistic point of view is the belief that as men age their worth value increases and that of the ladies decreases.

This discussion was also posed on the Plenty of Fish dating site forums. I have to admit, I'm a forum junkie. At times I participate, but for the most part, I just read them and get highly entertained.

Now here's the real question...... What exactly are the attributes that makes a person marketable??? If I were to believe the above sentiments, I should have withered up and died several years ago. Now here's the deal, my supposed expiration date passed close to 21 years ago and I've got to tell you folks, I've had absolutely no problem getting dates or forming relationships. However, from my own observations I can tell you how a person makes themselves unmarketable or at the very least a hard to sell item.

We've all dated this person:

The whiner, nothing ever goes right for this person, they're always underappreciated and mostly invisible and they let you know it.

The bitter woman/man hater basher, whenever a relationship comes to a close it's always the other persons fault. They simply refuse to look in the mirror or take responsibility for their own side of the street. They go on and on about how badly they were treated by the "ex" non stop, until your eyes roll into the back of your head as you quickly reach that near catatonic state.

The self absorbed braggart, they always give you a million and one reasons why you should consider yourselves lucky enough to be seen in their presence. They've got the best of everything and have no problem letting you know this, the most money, the best home, the greatest car and the list goes on an on. The self absorbed braggart makes sure you know that he or she will be THE best lover you've ever been lucky enough to sleep with. This individual has no problem with their self importance and the whole world including you is well beneath them.

The abusive alcoholic/addict. The evening may start out OK until he/she has one too many and it goes downhill from there.

The needy clingon, Yes this person is already planning your wedding before the first date is over. You know the type, every time they go on a date, they spend the whole day before it telling their friends and family that they believe this is the one. You need to think for them because they are incapable of thinking for themselves. They are helpless without you as they just cannot go on. This is a short list as I can go on and on, but that's not really what this blog is about.

It is my own belief that we are ALL marketable, at any age. It really just depends on the package you are trying to market. Nobody wants to go on a date and have to deal with the above scenerio or others just as bad. We wish to meet happy people who enjoy living, not miserable people. Water seeks it's own level so it stands to reason, that if you have issues to work out, you're probably not as marketable as you would wish yourselves to be. Take a break from dating and and look deep within. Learn to love the person you are continuously becoming then when you are comfortable with yourselves you WILL be that highly marketable commodity whether you are 16 or 60.

Peace out friends,

Margaret

A Special Thank You To The Spirit Who Saved My Daughter's Life

Margaret4560 — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 06:38:00 GMT

As I help plan the wedding of my beloved daughter, I can't help but think about the fact that this future date almost never would have arrived. Without the intervention of a very sad furnace dweller, who stepped out of his self imposed purgatory to save a life.

In early 1996 we moved into a strange little place on the north end of Tacoma, WA, 26th and Verde. Now I've always been a "north ender" as we had commonly referred to ourselves. For the most part I tried to raise my daughter on the north end. Hoping to give my child just a bit of an edge as opposed to our living in the less expensive Hilltop, East end, or even Lakewood for that matter. Maybe that sounds sort of elitist, but I was always willing to spend a little more to keep my family a little more removed from, those areas where the crime rate is that much higher. Environment is a very strange beast.

Now anybody who knows me well, knows how close I am with my daughter. She's now 25 and half my age but.... we still consider each other best friends. I do not know where I would be with out her. Even 10 years ago during those difficult teen years, I had this major obsession with her.

When I found the house on 26th Street, I had been looking frantically for a few weeks. Time was getting short and the thought of being homeless was looming rather largely around us. Then I found it...... this little white box of a house, sitting smack on a large corner lot. Along with a gorgeous Magnolia in the back yard, there was also a half dead Cherry tree. There was this strange little sun room off the back of the house where I had some of my most creative times. The interior was a little bit of "30's" art deco, that you would've never expected from looking at the outside of it.

Inside though, you could feel the anquish. Even after the house blessing and the invocation of the protective ones, a sense of foreboding hung overhead like a very heavy cloud. After the blessing just before the "move" I was speaking with an old friend, another psychic as a matter of fact. We were under the blooming Magnolia tree and he said to me...."you know there was a suicide here". Yes I knew it, you could feel it, there was no mistaking it. His shroud of death hung so heavily in the air. I had no other place to go so it was tune him out and make the best of it. So I made the best of it for 7 years. He was basically harmless, just spooky.

For the most part, it worked well to tune him out, but every time I walked past the furnace room in the basement, I knew he was there. I could feel him lurking but I refused to see him in the corner of my eye. I hated having to go into that little room for any reason. The perverbial "room under the stairs" and under the stairs it actually was, LOL. That darn furnace was over 60 years old and I always had to make some kind of adjustment to it inside THAT room.

Right behind the furnace were some shelves with doors on the outside that lead to my daughter's room. She used to stuff that cubby hole with anything she didn't use daily. That used to frustrate me to no end but I totally understand now why she did it. I used to take a long stick to hook the boxes of canning jars and pull them out rather then going in there to get them for canning. He was that spooky.

Because of this lost soul, a vortex was created in the upstairs hallway and it always felt like a door was open to the other side there. It does not surprise me that I had my very first medium reading in that home. The man who came through was also a suicide victim. I had a lot of suicide victims come to me there as a matter of fact.

When we moved in, my daughter had chosen to take the room down in the basement. I assume it was originally a family room. It had a huge closet, a bathroom that you froze your butt off in everytime you had to use it. The worst paneling on the walls you have ever seen, but the charming fireplace made that room a very desirable place. Of course I had to nail the windows shut, because Princess and her friends had the nasty habit of sneaking out at night. Not to mention.... those she snuck in. I remember the day, LOLOL. Teenagers, you just got to love them.

The earthquake hit the morning of Feb, 28, 2001, somewhere around 10:20 a.m. I was in the middle of a shower and all of the sudden, I was slow dancing in hell, naked in my shower. 6.8 and the 45 seconds it lasted seemed to go on and on for at least a week.

I managed to get the water off and grabbed a towel. I was headed for the basement to check on my daughter, but she was at the top of the stairs when I came out of the bathroom. She looked as if she had seen a ghost and quite literally she had. As she explained to me what happened from her end that morning, the chills ran up and down and back up my spine and still does every time I think about what could have happened.

She was sleeping very soundly and he appeared to her in her dream. His face about an inch from her's. Geez, I'm getting chills now just writing about this. Anyway he had to scream at her to wake her up as she sleeps like the dead. "WAKE UP...... THERE'S AN EARTHQUAKE!!!" Her eyes snapped open and she immediately sat up as he disappeared. At that same moment a hanging glass lamp with hundreds of glass disks came crashing down. just missing her face and head by meer inches. Had she not been woken up by our very sad furnace dweller, she surely would have died that morning. I owe him so much for saving her, especially since he could not save himself. I was also not surprised that about a year later, she gave that lamp to a friend. It never hung in that room again after the earthquake.

When my daughter described him to me, I got chills again as this was the same man, with the dark hair and the goatee, I had seen in the corner of my eye behind the furnace. Such a sad person, I believe he hung himself in the basement with his own belt sometime in the 60's.

I did not see him again until the evening I was finished moving out and the final cleaning was almost finished. The house was pretty emptied out and it was getting late, I still had the basement carpets to shampoo right next to that room.

Now I had lived there for 7 years and never had a problem staying in that house alone at any time, nights, weekends, whenever. It just never bothered me. Oh I knew he was there, anybody sensitive who came down those stairs knew he was there. But when I had emptied it of all my things it was way too eery to handle. I still had that one last bathroom to clean and carpet to shampoo. The wind was up that late August evening and the doors upstairs kept slamming shut. Everytime it happened, I about jumped out of my skin. That fact that I was alone didn't help much either. My daughter was settled in her own apartment and my ex had moved out almost a year prior to that. It was right around dusk and I had to grab something from the other part of the basement. So I rounded the corner and looked up to see my daughter's savior hanging from his own belt dead for 3 days.

Honestly, I could not leave that house any quicker than I did that evening. I mean..... I HAULED butt up those stairs, grabbed all my things, left the key on the mantle, locked the door behind me and never entered that house again. Shock factor will get me every time. I'd spent 7 years pretending he wasn't there, but he was. He never harmed or caused trouble, this gentle, but so sad entity. He may also have been somewhat of a practical joker in life, because he left us completely alone for the most part unless he felt it was his duty to help. He DID make sure I saw him though before I left some 7 years later. It scared the crap out of me.

The one thing I wondered many times was why I never had the urge to lead him over to the light of the other side. As a student of life's metaphysical and humanitarian arts, that was something I always would have helped with. It's what I am highly trained and skilled to do, but with him, I never even thought about it, not once until after I moved out and I've always felt really bad about it. My best friend Lady Raven and I discussed it and then I was able to see it from a completely different perspective. Strict orders from the other side, I was not supposed to. Other psychics have also assured me that number one he won't leave and number two it was never my place to do that for reasons, I do not, nor will I ever understand. However, he saved my daughter's life and I honor him with this tribute. I hope the new tenants are treating you well and kindly, as I see when I drive past, they still live there.

Peace out friends,

Margaret