-i voted on friday. this is my third election to participate in but the first time i have ever voted early. i am very nervous yet hopeful about the outcome. i am glad it is election day because i am ready for it to just be over already. gemma voted with me on friday. this was his first time voting. he has been eligible for 16years but was never interested before. that was a very cool experience to be able to influence someone to exercise their right to vote. and i didn't really try. it was very subtle. i was disappointed when he said he never votes because i think it is very important and as a woman perhaps, i take it even more seriously seeing as we've only had the right for less than 100 years. however, i didn't push the issue. i just educated myself on the candidates and would read articles to him. he watched every debate with me. and he started getting interested. the man wasn't even registered and one day he was like, so you are going to get me registered right? he made it clear that he wouldn't really make any extra effort but if i got the card and helped him fill it out he would register. so we got in right under the deadline and then he started getting antsy. has my card come yet? why hasn't my card come yet? what if it doesn't come in time? what if i can't vote?
but it did. and we went together. and he was excited. very excited. and after it was all said and done, he said you know, you made me break my pact to never vote or care about politics. and then he said that was very cool.
and i didn't even have to persuade. i just did my thing and it generated excitement and passion.
-this past weekend i really observed samhain for the first time in years. it's been several years since i felt enough energy at this time of year to actually get into it. and october is the only month i really love in the fall/winter spectrum but for the past several years i have been too depressed to even enjoy it.
friday night we had candy for trick or treaters but guess there are no kids in our neighborhood because we didn't get one. we also watched the exorcist. i haven't seen that movie since my fifth grade birthday party. i wasn't as scared as i was then but it is still a very creepy movie. i really enjoyed it. we lit candles in the west window to guide our loved ones during this time of the thinning of the veil.
saturday night we prepared a dumb supper. this is the second one i have ever participated in. it is a very moving experience. the dumb supper, also known as a silent supper, is a meal prepared with your deceased loved ones favorite dishes. you set extra settings with food and drink. you create sacred space, invite your loved ones to join you and eat in silence out of reverence. gemma really enjoyed it and we have decided to make this one of our traditions. it was so lovely and moving. i am glad i have found the energy again to observe the days that are holy to me. i love going to circle but i also enjoy finding time to privately observe as well. the weekend before we went to the big samhain celebration and it was so much fun. the food was surprisingly good, the punch was awesome, there were games and prizes and we won three of them, two from the games and one of the raffles. the ritual itself was very beautiful and moving and the spirit circle after was quite a novel experience.
-my yoga studio has decided to take away nearly all the hatha yoga classes and make them vinyasa classes. i am a little disappointed by this. there is only one hatha yoga class left on saturday mornings but i can only attend on the saturdays i am not mandated to work because it interferes with my work schedule.
-my job is finally about to make the dreaded move. they have completely obliterated the position in which i, and several other people hold. they have given us a new position but haven't even trained everybody for it. this company is becoming more and more frustrating in its policy of lack of information. they just don't seem to want to keep us informed about anything important. i am not looking forward to the extra distance but i know it is only for a couple of months. we are working diligently at getting the house ready to sell and as soon as it does we are out of here.
-i bought my plane ticket and will be traveling to new mexico for thanksgiving. this will be the first time in three years i have spent any holidays with my family at all.
-my dearest oldest friend will be in town at the end of december. i am very much looking forward to seeing her.
-i have spent the last two weeks with a persistent cold. i have vowed to not get sick again during the coming months of cold weather. good thing yoga journal and veg times dedicated this month's issues to preventing illness haha.
-gemma and i have decided that after we move and during our self-imposed three month no-work holiday that we will make a trip to the east coast. while there we will visit his hometown and family, go to lizzie borden bed and breakfast, salem, visit new york, and then drive down to baltimore to see my oldest dearest friend. yeah, it's going to be lots of fun.
-i have decided that while i am waiting to get the funds together for my yoga certification, i really want to pursue reiki. i have been getting so many messages about it that i think it's time i listen. gotta do something with my hot hands.
