She finally succumbed.

There are times when the Universe just WORKS.

Went up with Bu to be with Doc K. when his mother was buried. I had to put extra thick shields up in the funeral home so I wouldn't be curled up on the floor sobbing. I did get that strange tingling rush looking at Mrs. Kinne for the first and last time.

"Thank you for Rick," I whispered, bowing very low.

Catholic funeral Masses really do depend on the priest. I have a gut feeling that had the "family" priest had been serving, there would have been a lot more emotion and a lot less clinical in the homily. Bu almost made me swear in a church by making a brilliantly bad joke in the middle of Communion. (this was after I HAD sworn in church because there was congestion in the middle of the church before the ceremony started and no helpful hints for us guests hanging out behind the family. I'm SO not Catholic anymore.) NO, Doc K, that is NOT a criticism of you or your sister!!

I dropped my shields briefly to see if Mrs. Kinne had any messages I could pass on to Doc K. She did, and it took me a few minutes of sobbing to get my shields back up from all of the grief swirling around the church.

The ride to the cemetery was looong. Three inch heels are NOT good to be walking in soft graveyard soil. I do love the idea of planting a small food garden on someone's grave, but I'm not sure I'd be comfortable actually eating the produce.

Catholic Church Ladies are wonderful women. They provide food for after funerals. Seen it three times in my lifetime and it's always good food. The problem was that there wasn't enough Bu-friendly food for him to eat. So after several false starts, we managed to extract Doc K to go trawl for Buddha food.

One trip across the length of Rome, and a stop at a pizza place that didn't accept credit cards, we ended up at Applebees. I heart mojitos.

From there we took Doc K. back to his car, I hit the ladies' room, and we headed home. A lovely drive down 26 south and good conversation.

I had fibbed to Louuuu and said we were staying over in Rome. Bu and I had dinner at Niko's. I had the whole brook trout and yes, it DID come with the head. I cheered and the waitress was dumbfounded. We got home right after Zahde, and the three of us hung out, visited and watched Iron Monkey. Ok, I fell asleep through most of Iron Monkey, but the parts I had seen reminded me that I had seen it before. So, yay.

Today I took Bu back to Ithaca, with a side trip to Zahde's folks' house to meet her Greek God and Dryad cousins. I asked if I could stop at the Farmer's Market, as it was Saturday and I wanted to speak with the Dragon Scroll artist and inform him of Wolf's death. Walking through the crowded market was making me very nervous, almost claustrophobic. We found the artist and I told him about Wolf and the Dragon Scroll being all possessive of the Ritual Room. The artist, named Jim, was astonished by my story and kept repeating how impressed he was that the Dragon Scroll was really that powerful and that I was being such a good Guardian. He then named me a member of The Celestial Dragon Society. I brought up Zahde's idea for a Red Dragon and how the Dragon Scroll said "No more dragons, but I'll accept a phoenix." Jim doesn't paint phoenixes, but then he went and took down a large, square, Western framed painting of Quonli, the Taoist goddess of Mercy and Compassion.

"Here," he says, handing it to me. "This is Quonli. She's the one that stayed behind to hear and answer the lamentations of humanity. She's the Goddess of Mercy and Compassion and she'll help balance out the Dragon Scroll. I'm giving this to you."

Giving this to me. This is easily a $400 painting and he's GIVING it to me!

"I painted this a few months ago not really knowing why," Jim continued as I helped him wrap the picture in a plastic bag. "I just knew it needed to be done. Quonli watches over my shop here, and she always responds to those who call on her. I now know that you were meant to have this, so please take it and be well." I handed the picture to Bu and went down on one knee to Jim, hands together and head down.

"Thank you," I choked out. Jim patted my head.

"Please don't. Please don't." He said. I stood up and bowed deeply one more time before we said goodbye. I could feel the warm compassion and comfort seeping out of the picture as we carried it through the market. Bu stopped at two cider stands for tasting, I declined as my hands were still shaking from being given such a gift.

After two attempts to stop for food at dinner only places, Bu and I made it to the Commons and we scoped out Restaurant Row before I voted on Sahara. Our tapas-like choices turned out to be full appetizer sized portions. We took half of those home. Between that, Applebees and Niko's, I have lunches for half of next week. (^_^)

Since it was only about 3 pm, we headed over to Medusa Tattoo so I could talk to the artists about my black wolf tattoo. I had sorted down my choices to two drawings, then Madame Artist (whose name I cannot remember, Allison?) broke out the wolf books. I quickly found The Picture for the face and expression in the eyes, and as we talked she managed to find the Right Coloring on a different page. The Picture made my heart pound and tears spring to my eyes. It was so, well, Wolf.

I put my deposit down, discussed placement with Cesario and made an appointment for Oct. 22 at 4 pm. This will cost me $100-125, depending on time. I put $50 down.

I took Bu home, called Looo to tell her I was on my way, and headed out. About halfway home was when the tears started, as I realized that getting the tattoo is the final self-imposed statement of grief. Once I have the tattoo, the rings come off and are put away in a drawer. I know I'm ready for this, but at the same time I'm feeling rather shaken. I'm not getting a snarling, drooling wolf. I'm getting a watchful, protective wolf. The mantra that leaped into my mind is "I guard this heart until SHE says otherwise."

I pulled into Looo's feeling fundamentally changed. This allowed me to reach out and help Hands, Loooo's BFF, when she was having a small crisis. We made arrangements for her to come to dinner Monday night. I'm going to attempt Ratatouille again. I also told her that if she needed to, she was welcome to come over tonight and vent in the Ritual Room. Between the Dragon Scroll and Quonli, that room is pretty much covered.

I had to work today due to three sale cars being picked up. Fortunately, I was able to skip out before the third because my part in it had been done Friday and I saved The Boss from the second. woot.

IDK and Nephew Tall Person went to see Thor. In 3-D. I did not, because 3-D triggers my migraines. So I went to Imagicka, a pagan shop I've been wanting to visit for, oh, YEARS. When I walked in I closed my eyes and extended my senses and was instantly welcomed. I love shops like that. I prowled the entire shop, stopping as needed. I picked up a copy of The Witch's Bible by the Ferrars, but when I started thumbing through it, I realized I'm beyond the experience level of the book and, well, let's be honest. I started Solitary and while I'm enjoying the small group, I'm still doing a lot of my own Work alone. So I put it back and kept looking.

I found Cottage Witchery by Ellen Dugan. She has a frank style of writing that mirrors my own thinking processes and her introduction spelled out EXACTLY what I'm trying to do with MY house. Score!

After finishing my initial prowl, I went back to the stone and mineral table, grounded, and started feeling for stones to use in my protection spell-in-the-works. I ended up with six, and most of them were a surprise. But that's the nature of the Craft. Following my instinct, I also picked a jar of herbal bath soak, complete with linen bag and wooden spoon, off the clearance table, and grabbed a bag of elder berries and cut nettles for my Herb Craft. I spent just over $50, but it was all well worth it.

Lunch was spent at Java Joe's, munching a turkey & apple & cheese panini, sipping a cafe au lait, and reading my new book.

The cafe au lait, as well as the chai latte I bought on my way into work, and the cup of sakura green tea for breakfast, made for a dehydrated Queenie. By now it was after 2 and I figured the movie would be done around 3, so I headed back to Vestal, missing turns and having to backtrack. I blame the pondering over fairies and brownies and suddenly realizing I couldn't see or feel my house spirits because I've been too sad. Fairies tend to pack up and go when there's a death, and since I've lost Wolf AND my kitty Mist, there's been a lot of sadness and therefore, a lot of spiritual blindness.

I have a nebulous idea on inviting more in as I keep working on the house. Cuteness will probably help with this, she's already attracted fairies once. They liked to tickle her in the mornings. And They did enjoy playing with Mist.

I've put out a general call for inviting another cat. My only conditions are that it be an adult cat and short haired.

I did stop by Dress Barn looking for more work shirts and managed to find two really cute short sleeved sweaters on sale. One's a similar shade of orange sherbet as a blouse I found at Macy's and the other's a nice shade of blue. By then it was just after 3, so I headed for the theater to wait for IDK and Tall Person.

Thirty-five minutes later, they come out. THEY HADN'T WAITED FOR THE END OF THE CREDITS!!! I shook IDK (gently by the shoulders) and scolded him while Tall Person laughed and the Mundanes gave me funny looks. So now I HAVE to go see Thor so I can see the teaser because that's what Marvel does.

IDK had been coughing most of the day, so we picked up Cuteness, dropped off Tall Person (Zahde, I gave Drya the tank, she thinks it might be a bit snug in the bosom, but she liked it.) (I also got a bottle of water because Drya stocks such things.) and headed to Cost Cutters. Both kiddos got cuts and then IDK got sick in the parking lot.

*sigh*

We came home. IDK plunked down on the couch, Cuteness claimed the computer and I set about reclaiming the kitchen, charging my new stones with their work (used incense and the North candle), putting things away and clearing off the dining room table. I have a spicy concoction simmering on the stove to clear out the fumes of the last few weeks, incense still burning in the Ritual Room, and Wolf and Cat have fresh candles in their freshly cleaned holders.

I intend to take a cleansing bath tonight with my Japanese bath fizzies and my new herbal soak. I'll have to figure out a temporary drain plug, as that bathroom still isn't fixed. Maybe a votive holder?

Tomorrow is laundry. We have plenty of food in the house, I can go grocery shopping either Monday or Thursday after work.

In between treatments, I got a call from the vet. Mist is showing remarkable improvement! His kidney tests are showing significant drops in the bad stuff (no, I can't remember what it's called. Hush.) and he's urinating on his own with little, if any, difficulty.

He still needs to be kept under observation, so I won't be able to pick him up before Sunday. That's a full two days more then the estimate, but he's getting healthy!!

Do you realize what this means??

Death listened to me!!! I punched the shower wall Thursday night in fury and then glared past my pretty new shower curtain and said "YOU CAN'T HAVE HIM!"

This sparked a ten minute conversation with Death. I cried the entire time, admitted I do fear It, a little, but I'm not terrified of It. Not surprisingly, Death is a quiet sort, and a Pure Cynic.

Thanks, Alex!!!

My Imbolc Inspiration.

My life, my love, my body, my mind, my duty, my sacred honor. All of these things Wolf and I pledged to each other eight years ago May. My forever lasted seven years, not long at all. Just as the winter must release its grip from the earth, I know I cannot move forward until I release my grip on my shattered heart. And so, tonight, I release us both from those vows. I will not forget you, Wolf. I love you, and I will see you when my time comes.

Or, "Queenie's Anticipatory Yule Ritual Experience"

As most of my friends know, I'm empathic to a certain degree, and I tend to "see" and "hear" spirits, whether ghosts or elementals or Divine. I was not in a good mood for the Yule ritual Saturday night, so I sat in a corner with my sakabatou on my lap and stroking it in an attempt to get into the right head space. Sakabatou ended up being volunteered for Circle Casting, so I grabbed Wolf's training katana and started clinging to that.

Once we were ready to get started, I moved to the other side of the room for light control. I kept the katana propped on my right shoulder, a la Kenshin. During the grounding, I saw Wolf's constellation form, smiling and reaching down to me. I promptly burst into tears, as quietly as I could, and cried through the Circle Casting. As I was in charge of Purification, I added my tears to the salt water, making it very personal. No one minded, thankfully.

Hades & Persephone were Called. Persephone was first, and our HPS was more formal then our HP. Persephone saw me clinging to the blade against my shoulder like a security blanket and approached me. Note, this has NEVER happened to me before in Circle. I've Invoked into myself, but I haven't had an INVITED Divine presence single me out.

P: Why are you so upset? Wolf is safe, you know. In my hands, in Valhalla, wherever you believe, he is safe. Safe and waiting for you. There's no reason to be upset!

Me: *silently* Yes. He's in YOUR hands. Not MINE. I'm upset because of that.

During this conversation, Hades was called. He promptly started grumbling about mourning mortals and the lack of equal treatment in the Calling. Persephone turned away from me and started scolding him for being ungrateful at an honest Call. Really, how often were THEY, the King and Queen of the Grecian Realm of the Dead, Called? He stuck to his guns and the bickering began.

By the time I managed to tune them out, everyone was busy writing their Casting Off and Inviting In requests for the year. I sat there, sword still propped on my shoulder, and wondered what the blue blazes I was going to write. I ended up with a To Do list.

Secret C, our HP and host for the evening, suggested I use Wolf's sword to channel the energy raised after we burned our lists in his wood stove. So I did, and completely missed the timing. Oh well, at least the fire didn't go WHOOMP!

As we Çlosed the Circle, Persephone came over, kissed my cheek, and reminded me that really, everything was going to be ok, I would see Wolf again when my time came. Hades harumphed to himself and they left together.

The more I work with this group, the more spiritual interactions I get. To date, I've Drawn Down Hecate and been given messages for everyone involved, had East grab my wrists and chatter excitedly, watch Wolf ride off on a white horse, and now the Grecian Queen of the Dead has kissed me and assured me Wolf is safe and secure and patiently waiting.

I think I need to do a rededication of the entire house. Probably in the spring.

I've probably butchered that song lyric, but oh well.

Wolf was planted under his Scarlet Oak Saturday afternoon. We had fun (IE: Pain in the Tuckus!) trying to light the fire pots I had brought for Quarter Candles, as I had forgotten the proper lighter. South decided to blow itself out at some point during the ceremony, I have no idea why.

For the record, fire pots work much better either after dark or indoors.

The ceremony itself was very good, I feel. I got through my part without crying, although I had to keep my eyes closed. One of the guests had said he wanted to bring some bulbs to plant around the tree, so we all said "Sure!"

"Some" bulbs = 4 boxes of 20-40 bulbs each.

Yeah. The longest part was getting those in the ground. It should look STUNNING in the Spring, I'm looking forward to a March/April visit. I can't even remember all the types. Crocus were one, Daffodils were another, and there were two others.

"Rain King" was sung very well by skitten, even though she wasn't feeling good.

There was much feasting all evening, and another Path-walking ritual led by Alon after all the kiddos were in bed. I saw Wolf again, still sporting his wedding robe!, and this time I got a really good kiss as well as a hug. What got me at the end was how he left, on the back of a cream colored horse. I was a little surprised my screaming had worked, even though I shouldn't have been.

Now I feel like I can actually take those next few steps and move on with my new life. I've decided I'm definitely getting that flat screen television as a Yule present for the whole family. Cuteness will absolutely be getting a new mattress set and new sheets. As for everything else, it's a matter of talking to the right people for the college funds, and that "Welcome to the Human Race, Queenie" 4 hour dinner with drinks will be scheduled for after the New Year. Possibly for my birthday.

Tattoos will be figured out next summer. Probably for Wolf's birthday in August.

That painful hole in my heart is still there, but it's surrounded by a feeling of strong satisfaction and love. Maybe now it will slowly start to scab over.

So, tea pots. If I had my way and had unlimited storage ability, I would have goobs and gobs of teapots. Of all kinds and sizes and shapes and I would have just as many tea cups and saucers.

Thankfully, I have very, very limited storage. This did not stop the STRONG craving for a pretty, one-serving teapot. My Australian press has served me long and well and I'm still glad I got it, but it's not satisfying the Inner Girly Girl. Yes, I have one. Shut Up.

Yesterday I went looking for "small" teapots and ran into a serious problem. I don't KNOW what I want. I'm scrolling through pictures trying to find something that jumps out and grabs me by the Girly Girl or Witchy heartstrings and shakes me like a puppy. Nada. The few that I went "OO! That's Pretty!" started at $60 and only went up from there. $60 is too much to spend on a single serving teapot, let alone $2k as I saw on one antique website. Not Happening.

I even went so far as to email my British penpal and ask for suggestions of vendors. I haven't heard back yet.

Today I tried a different route. Instead of shopping Google, I did an image search. 16 pages later, I find a site called www.enjoyingtea.com. Scrolling through their many and varied options, I discover Chinese clay teapots in various styles. I also find cast iron teapots, in Japanese style, for less then $60! Hey, I'm on to something here! Further searching brings up...

A tree trunk tea pot! From Yixing Clay, which is apparently prized in China for its high temperature tolerances and slow heat conduction. It also slowly absorbs tea flavors, thus seasoning the pot and adding complexity to later brews. AND! It's only $30!! I also found Imperial White Chrysanthemum tea for $9/4 oz, which I just HAD to get. And then I stopped looking so I wouldn't spend any more money.

My teapot should be here in 7-10 days. Woot! I will post pictures once it arrives, as my LJ skillz are horrible.

Spent all day Friday cleaning, cleaning, cleaning. I got the upstairs done to my satisfaction and took a very proactive approach to my kitchen. This was all in prep for Ritual on Saturday night.

A lot of people don't realize this, but I do measure a certain amount of self-worth in direct reflection to one or two specific people. In this case, it was "Can I host a Group Ritual as well as RBD, thus giving her a much-deserved break and establishing my house as a go-to location, as I am, frankly, more central to everyone's various locations?"

I was not given any feedback, so I only have my opinion. My opinion was that I kept things well enough under control, I had a very good outing with Zahde prior to other arrivals which was very helpful and this group can pretty much take care of themselves when given adequate food and drink.

Their Majesties were very helpful in tidying up after dinner, as was Bu. After dinner I brewed tea and coffee for those who needed it, including me, and spent a good chunk of time pondering if moving the dining room table into the bedroom and bringing out the altar worth the effort. I am firmly of the opinion the dining table is for dining, and the altar is for Ritual. However, I didn't have the oomph and everyone else had staked out the living room to chat. So I found a tablecloth to keep the respective energies somewhat separated and moved what tools were needed. This worked out better then I expected, as when I removed the tablecloth after Ritual there was a sense of satisfaction. I also washed the tablecloth Sunday afternoon. Plus, following this method, those who need to sit can sit fairly comfortably and rest elbows as needed.

People got up sooner then I had expected. A lot sooner, actually. The coffee I had chosen for Their Majesties met with Royal Approval, my tea & tisane variety was well received, and my first home-made tea bag run was declared a success. Whoot.

I do really need to run the dishwasher tonight to prevent any frustration tomorrow evening, especially since we have karate class at 6 pm. Zahde asked me twice Sunday afternoon how I felt about the state of my kitchen, and I declared it OK. It was. Sunday. It is now Monday and there's been 3-4 more meals, so, yeah.

For the record, fire pots work very well for Quarters, and if one is knocked over, the alcohol gel is easily cleaned up and does not spread as far as one might think. Even though South gave us a bit of a scare when it decided to burn the residual gel on the side of the pot. Excitement!

Went down to RBDarkly's with just the kiddos, as Wolf is in his down phase, which happens every 2-6 months, and I'm fairly sure of the triggers and would cheerfully break out Mallet-sama if I was in the same bloody state, but I'm not and the person in question wouldn't listen to me ANYWAY, even with a large bump on the cranium.

Despite the heat and feeling a little frustrated by taking on most of the responsibility for dinner, I managed to get into the right head-space to make my Healing Tisane (Eat Your Heart Out, Baron!) after dinner and the kiddos were safely ensconced in bed.

Ritual was all about healing and seeking inspiration to change our lifestyles to encourage health and wellness. As I had written up a guided meditation, I was tapped to Priestess. Eva took the Priest role, after putting me to the blush. Alon took my Quarter Call, but that was ok.

K did a good job of grounding everyone and I started the meditation as soon as she was done. Much discussion earlier had been about keys and doorways, which was absolutely NOT what I had written, but I was easily able to incorporate it. The doorway imagery worked better then I had expected for getting everyone to let go of what might be holding them back from achieving the goal of good health before approaching a Sacred Pool of Healing Waters and taking in what was needed, both for ourselves and those not present who need it. A second, new doorway showed everyone a more correct path for themselves.

I passed out the Healing Tisane as a way for everyone to come back and ground and center. It was just about perfect. I still think I needed a bit more lavender, but that flower can so easily overwhelm other flavors, so I have to fiddle some more. I certainly don't mind fiddling with tisanes! I had a lot of fun playing with various herbs and spices and I will do this again for Samhein and Yule. *nodnodnod*

(I had so much fun I went out and spent about $5 on muslin and hemp cord and thread to make my very own teabags)

I was assured multiple times that my dolmas, while not staying together in neat little green bundles, did taste delicious (it was Bu's recipe, I just put everything together) , my tisane was very nice, and I have a good voice for meditation. The reactions to the burden to be dropped surprised me, and I was thrilled to hear RKDarkley did trance, which is not always easy for her.

Sunday was Girl Time with RBDarkley, something she and I desperately needed. She's even more isolated then I am, as she sees her husband less often and while there's females at her workplace, she doesn't get the time to visit with them. It was really nice to just sit over coffee & tea and talk about parenthood and husbands. I read out of the Group BoS to her and she gave me the times she'll be available for the next two months. I have no idea when we'll be getting together again, but this is valuable information.

What really surprised me was Alon's gift. He had a bag of amethyst that he offered to RBD and I as a "Thank You" for hosting and Priestess-ing, respectively. I knew which one was for me the minute it tumbled out of the bag, but I sat back and let RBD find hers first. Kaaren also claimed one, which is Good. Mine fits into my hand like a ST:TNG cricket phaser, which was a STUPID design for a phaser, but works really well for a crystal wand! I've decided not to mount it and will use it as is. It's currently sitting in a North window until I have the energy to dedicate it.

It was a long drive home with only Cuteness for company, but we made it home safe. Today it was difficult to get up, considering I only got about 6 hours of sleep Saturday night and didn't get to bed until after 11 pm Sunday. I fully intend to get to bed by 10 tonight.

Speaking of, it's time to get the Cuteness ready for bed and brew myself some lavender/peppermint tisane to relax before bed.

Blessed Be!

Well, there are friends in here that weren't there, so let's see if I can summarize effectively.

There was Goat Drama Friday. Fortunately it worked itself out. After I had a minor meltdown and we found a cooler that would hold it and we got really, really lost and had to take a backroads tour past free range chickens that I did everything but honk at to get them to clear the road. Stupid chickens.

Friday night was long but productive. Goat was bagged for marinade and stuffed into the cooler w/lots of ice and lots of marinade. We also got bombed by the bugs, which Wolf declared to be imported from Maine. This would be the theme of the weekend. Maine Mosquitos.

Saturday I was up by 7:30, despite not going to bed until after midnight. This would be my routine for the entire weekend, very frustrating. People started showing up around 9 am. I got Barb her coffee a little after 9. By 11 am I was helping tote poles and tarps for the Temple and working up the mental oomph to dig the fire pit. That took a lot of time and oomph. Thankfully, I had more help, as even more people had shown up, huzzah.

Saturday evening was Pooh's Initiation. Wolf and I had parts, and thankfully the children were exhausted, so I could put them to bed and not worry about it. I had staked out my stations earlier in the day, and scrapped the entire route when I realized how bloody dark the woods can be after sunset. It worked out and it was beautiful and I now have a need satisfied, which pleases me greatly.

More later. Concert!

EDIT:

After ritual it was Getting Drunk Time. Meg's trophy wife had sent her along with citrine vodka and a twelve pack of UFO beer. I stole a raspberry (that still hasn't been consumed) and took a healthy 2-3 shots of vodka, which I cut with Barb's most excellent lemonade.

I was numbed-tongue drunk after that. I did take another shot or so, with lemonade, but I was being watched closely by Rob, my digging partner, and Meg, and they agreed between them to take my booze away when I showed signs of tipping sideways and fobbed water on me, which I did drink. Not long after that Wolf collected me to pour me into bed. I managed to stagger gracefully into the kitchen, to run into His Royal Majesty, and informed him I was...was...something that starts with "In" and wasn't Incapacitated, which is what I was trying to say, when asked something about the kiddos. He mentioned it again Sunday, but nope, what I said is gone, gone gone.

Sunday started too damn early and I was promptly sucked into a very good book, Lillith, Snake in the Grass, Book 1 of the Warden Diamond Chronicles or something like that. I read the WHOLE book over the course of the morning and gave myself burning eyes for the rest of the day. Helping with the Goat Fire only exacerbated my condition, and drops did exactly bumpkis. Alex showed up for Goat Prep (FINALLY!) and he took our super-marinated goat and removed the sweetmeats, sawed off the head, stuffed garlic cloves under the skin and the body cavity with pickled lemons (OMGOOD!! Must find those to eat, omnomnom), onions, ginger and whole oranges. I helped him hold and wrap the goat in banana leaves and foil and lug the thing over to the pit, cover it with stones and dirt and moar FIRE!!

(Wolf, by this point, had been playing fire marshall since we first started the damned thing, and continued to play fire marshall through the roasting process. The smoke did not keep the Maine Mosquitos away, nor did the citronella sticks. Wolf would like to inform everyone that he really did have a lovely time, enjoyed the Initiation very much and it was the godforsaken Main Mosquitos that finally did him in.)

I, meanwhile, had been lured into the house with promises of more tea, a much needed massage and finally being all tied up and left hanging. There are pictures on FetLife, somewhere, if anyone's really, really interested. I'm fully clothed, as there were children around, but the rope was a lovely dark red that contrasted nicely with my green Tshirt and jeans. It was like a very snug swing, which, when I started doing that clover leaf swing, triggered my motion sickness. Barb was a sweetheart and hand-fed me crystalized ginger, which I now keep on in my purse at all times, for just such reasons.

There were S'mores before goat, and after goat Wolf had finally had enough. I got the car packed (IDK forgot his jammie pants in Meg's tent, and thank you again Megfaun, for letting him join you. You rock!), and by 10:30ish we were on the road. We had to go back for the MagnaDoodle (best car toy EVAR!) and I borrowed Meg's Spidey hoodie as Wolf insisted on an icebox car for the drive home. We got home after midnight, put the kids to bed and collapsed.

Monday was spent on the couch.

Tuesday morning I woke up with a great deal of pain in my right foot. So much so that I was limping most of the morning at work. I called Bronco, he gave me a stretch and an ice suggestion, and informed me if the pain continued to creep up my leg, to get myself to the doctor.

Well, today the pain moved from the arch closer to the toes, AND has crept up the leg a bit. Wearing shoes makes it worse, and while the pain levels were less, they did not go away. I think my foot and ankle are a trifle swollen. Not sure what the heck I did, but I see the doc tomorrow at 9:30 am.