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(Found this in the journals and thought I would try to write something)



So CONFESSION TIME and I hope to see this in other people's journals too! lol....Ten things most people dont know about you (or maybe that do) that have shaped who you are as a person.



Okay go...





1. I was the tallest and most likely skinniest girl all through elementary school. I couldn't put on weight. I was 110 lbs and 5ft 7 inches until I had my first child. Then I had to worry about taking off weight and I grew two inches in my twenties.



2. I love the ocean but won't swim in it anymore because I was taken under by an undertow at Newport Beach and have been afraid ever since.



3. I never liked to drive and didn't start until 33. I took a courier job driving a van just to push the limit of my fear. It came back and now it scares me again to drive even though I was a courier for a number of years. I also drove all over San Diego county doing respite. It was shortly after I retired from that it came back. I literally get in a panic even if someone else is driving, but it depends.



4. I hate heights and it is really a fear of falling. You can't bribe me onto a roller coaster. I don't like large spiders of any kind.



5. I am incredibly shy and agoraphobic. I can talk openly now but I still feel self conscious. I found out as an adult I have Generalized Anxiety Disorder so this probably explains all of that.



6. I egged my ex fiance's car (totally out of character for me) because when we broke up he lied to a friend of mine and said we weren't broken up and told them my daughter went berserk in our apartment throwing things around. He called the police and she hit the cop and went to jail. Therefore he was scared of what I would do so went next door to his Mom's. (We lived in the same four-plex). He made it all up and it never happened. Needless to say I was on a mission.



7. I have fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome. I have severe scholiosis in the lower spine from being hit by a car when I was around 3 or 4 and now chronic Achilles tendonitis.



8. My family fight over just about everything including my parents who did almost everyday even over parking spots. They didn't just fight, they yelled a lot. I hate fighting and will close the door and not come out. I will get panic attacks when things like this start up or hold it in until I explode and say things I simply don't mean and are out of character.



9. Love animals but prefer to visit them at zoos or other places. I feel if one doesn't have the time to care for them which I don't it is not right to have a pet. I didn't have many growing up, so not use to them.



10. I have many hobbies but the biggest is writing. My father wrote a lot and was the forever student up to the point of a Juris Doctorate in Law. My Mother liked to talk and tell stories. I guess I get it from them.

This is NOT a vampiric house but one for those involved with a certain type of witchcraft. I've been putting so much on my other profile in the journal, I thought I would post this over here. I did mention about the term warlock there and here it reiterates what I said over there about that and the Celts.

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Excerpted from House Shadow Drake for educational purposes only. You can read a lot of information at this site if this is your topic of choice. There isn't much here because beyond this it would stretch the idea of Fair Use.



House Shadow Drake is an Irish traditional household for seekers to the elder traditions of Witchcraft. More specifically, we are a welsh-Irish tradition with a little "w" and a big "I."



http://www.shadowdrake.com/index.php



The term "Celtic," from the Greek Keltoi was used by the Greeks to refer to the peoples who lived beyond the Alps. This term, more or less, meant stranger. There were many tribes who were referred to as the Keltoi, each of which had their own unique culture and identity. These tribes were mainly found in the areas we modernly refer to as Northern Italy, France, and Germany. Of note, the cultures of the British Isles and Ireland - which in contemporary thought form the heart of the Celtic culture - were still unknown to the Greeks and therefore not held under the term Keltoi. It is only later that archaeologists and linguists begin defining things such as the Hallstatt and La Tene' periods and deciphering the Indo-European languages that we see an expansion of the use of the term "Celtic" extending into non-Keltoi cultures. Coupled with the European unification propoganda of the 1800's, the term "Celtic" became a rallying point for all of the European countries as a point of mutual identification.



Many times, the term "Celtic" is used by scholars as a way to generalize and hide their lack of knowledge regarding the origin or subject of their work. By taking the time to specifically state the culture we are able to alleviate vagueness in our writing and expand our understanding of the topic. However, the term "Celtic" has become quite popular and is perhaps one of the more widely recognized terms we can use when referring to this widespread group of cultures on a collective basis.





What is Witchcraft?



Witchcraft is the continuation of the native cultural beliefs and practices of the ancient Europeans as they continued to be passed down and followed, generation after generation, after the advent of Christianity. Witchcraft is the name that was given to these practices by the Catholic Church and was not the name by which those who followed these beliefs and practices originally called their religion.



What is Witchcraft?

Witchcraft is the continuation of the practice of the native religions and cultural beliefs of Europe after the advent of Christianity. Witchcraft is the name that was given to these practices by the Christian Church. Before that, the people who followed a religion were just believers. There were special roles that equated to what we would now call a priesthood. These positions often involved law enforcement, settling of domestic disputes, counseling, omen consultation, blessings, administration of medication, keeping the calender, and such. There are names for those who took these positions, but the name changes with the area.



People continued, even under persecution, to worship their Gods. These religions often dominated in the more remote areas, and tended to localize themselves to specific regional areas, or were kept within the members of a family. In these families, the traditions of the religion were passed down from generation to generation. Many were forced to masquerade under the cover of Catholism, even though they were not truly Catholic.

Ireland, however, was never touched by the Inquisition, and for the most part was free from witch-hunters in general. This allowed many practicioners of Witchcraft to continue their worship fairly unhindered.



Some people who follow these native religions of Europe do not refer to themselves as Witches. The term "Witch" is something that was placed upon these beliefs. However, using the term "Witchcraft" is an easy way to collectively identify these religious beliefs and those who follow them.



Are male Witches called warlocks?



In an attempt to ostracize those who followed the old religions from the realms of popular society, the Church categorized Witches as warlocks. The word "warlock" translates as the Scottish Gaelic term for a liar, oathbreaker, back-stabber, or someone generally not to be trusted.



Many people use this as a term for a male Witch in contemporary society, but any Witch referred to as such will be greatly insulted by the term. Those who use the term "warlock" should not be trusted for information because they are either ignorant of the term and not knowledgeable about the Craft,or they are most likely teenagers involved with pseudo-satanism who think that name sounds cool.



If someone betrayed a coven, the members might mark them as a warlock by taking a blade and slashing them across the forehead so that everyone who met the person would recognize them as such and would know not to trust that person. Interestingly enough, this same technique of marking was used by the Church to designate someone who was a Witch and was done to render their magick impotent.



What is a hedgewitch?



A hedgewitch is someone who follows a specific path within a tradition that is somewhat shamanic in nature, for lack of a better term. There are many different titles that those who follow this particular path are called: Hedge-Rider, Hedgewitch, Night Travellers, Myrk-Riders, Gandreidh, Badbh (name of a Goddess as well as a title), and Walkers on the Wind. These are the ones who engage in spirit flight, and journey into the Otherworld. It is this inner tradition which utilizes such things as flying salves and potions in order to gain access to the Otherworld. There are certain pre-requisites which must be met before one can learn this particular path, however.



A hedgewitch is able to go into the Otherworld, and call back the souls of those who are about to die. They can, in this capacity, be very powerful healers. They are also able to speak with those who have passed beyond. One of the rituals by which a hedgewitch can cross over into the Otherworld is called the Ritual of the Raven.



A bird of one kind or another is usually associated with the hedge path. Two of the most commonly associated birds are the raven and the goose.



A mention should be made that the hedge signified the boundary of the village, and thus the boundary of the known world. Not all cultures had hedges, though. Some had stone wall, or earthen works. Regardless, this term is adopted as a way to commonly identify this particular path.



It should be emphasized that not all Witches walk the hedge.



http://www.shadowdrake.com/HSDwitchFAQ.html#3

I thought this was an interesting topic. The families I helped out didn't eat any of these things. I think it is mostly popular in Utah and possibly Idaho, Southern CA, I don't know. Maybe when they have potlucks which I wasn't invited to. Both of the families I saw up close and personal because I had to make lunches and dinners pretty often. One I helped put away their food quite often.



Anyway this is very interesting.



Jell-O Love: A Guide to Mormon Cuisine

MAR 24 2010, 9:00 AM ET27



stu_spivak/flickr



In some circles, it is a well-known and boast-worthy fact that Utah has historically consumed more Jell-O per capita than any other state in the nation. This jiggling, fruity dessert made from horse hooves and artificial flavoring holds a special wobbling place in the heart of every Utahan, native or adopted. The love of Jell-O resonates so deeply that in 2001, when Utah narrowly beat out Iowa in annual Jell-O consumption, state officials elected Jell-O the official state snack and named Bill Cosby an honorary Utah citizen.



When my family relocated to Utah from New Brunswick, New Jersey, in the summer of 1998, we were unaware of the local gelatin affinity. Shiny yellow and blue Jell-O salads sat in our fridge vibrating their friendly "welcome to the neighborhood." We discovered the strange, almost otherworldly suspensions of savory items—shredded carrots, peas, and cubed ham—in gifts of Jell-O molds. And I, just shy of my thirteenth birthday, entered a new semester of junior high and a new culinary terrain.



Home economics was my first class. My teacher, who had an incredible ability to hide and forget multiple pencils in her stiff purple bouffant, stood in front of the class, introduced herself, and with a wide smile began the semester with this question: "Now, how many of your mothers have more than five recipes for Jell-O?" Almost everyone in the class raised their hands. "Now," she said, "tell me, how many of your mothers have more than 10 recipes for Jell-O?" I could hear the soft scrape of rising fabric behind me. Many of my classmates kept their hands high. Her excitement increased. "How many of your mothers have more than 15 recipes for Jell-O?" Her eyes gleamed and her smile widened at the response. "Twenty?" I turned around, and at least six or seven classmates with Jell-O-obsessed mothers beamed back.



Utah food culture, for the most part, can be dubbed Mormon cuisine. The state was settled in 1847 by Brigham Young, the leader of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints following the assassination of founder Joseph Smith, and as the community fled religious persecution it spread into southern Idaho, California, Wyoming, and Nevada, popularly called the "Mormon Corridor" or the "Jell-O Belt." A mix of convenience foods and Southwestern ingenuity, Mormon cuisine is built around feeding dozens of mouths from pantry stores and prudent seasoning. Notably, many iconic Mormon foods are enjoyed throughout the Southwest by Mormons and non-Mormons alike.



Because Utah is the most homogenously religious state in the nation, social life tends to revolve around LDS church functions, church potlucks being the nucleus of Mormon cuisine. Any budding culinary anthropologist can touch down at the Salt Lake City International Airport, shout "Take me to a ward potluck!", and discover the bedrock of Mormon food.



At most social functions, there will be funeral potatoes. Not just for post-burial buffets, the dish is comforting at any social gathering. Calorically astronomical and dense with melted cheese, funeral potatoes are a casserole of shredded cooked frozen potatoes, canned cream of chicken soup, and sour cream, topped with crumbled cornflakes and baked until molten. This food, along with green Jell-O, was immortalized in a set of collectible pins from the 2002 Winter Olympics.



There will also be frog's eye salad, an ambrosial addition to any potluck. This is made from small pasta balls called acini de pepe—Italian for peppercorns (fregola or orzo can be substituted)—that have been cooked, drained, and cooled, then mixed with a tub of whipped topping, canned crushed pineapple, and canned mandarin orange segments.



There might be Hawaiian haystacks, an economical and engaging dish made from a pot of white rice and refrigerator scraps. Boiled chicken, Tuesday's ham, microwaved corn niblets, and shredded lettuce are set out in little bowls. Gravy, fried wontons, and pineapple rings are essential. Guests pile their plates with a heap of rice and add toppings as they please into a loaded stack.



These dishes are composed of ingredients easily found in any Mormon fridge or pantry. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the Mormon pantry is unique in its depth. The 30-page Essentials of Home Production and Storage booklet published by the LDS church states that a larder should contain up to a year of family sustenance. Both a go-to for quick family meals and a supply of beans, grains, dry milk powder, and canned peaches for surviving a The Road-style apocalypse, the pantry promotes an overall attitude of preparedness and self-sustainability that Mormons hold dear.



Mormon food can sometimes seem like an afterthought—packaged and processed foods cobbled together into bland dishes and stretched to feed piles of kids. One Mormon friend of mine, who grew up in a household of nine, mentioned the functional aspect of meals. "Food was supplied, eaten, and then moved on"; food was sustenance, not sensual pleasure.



But often the cuisine's thrifty use-what's-on-hand creativity is bolstered by bursts of decadent combination. Take fry sauce, the perfect mix of two highly processed and beloved ingredients. Ketchup and mayonnaise combine to surpass the originals: the mix is tangy, with a savory tomato backdrop and the fattiness of aioli. Dragging fries through a coral-pink pooling is a local pastime at any of Utah's great hamburger joints: Iceberg's, Crown Burger, Apollo Burger, Arctic Circle, or Hires Big H, all of which have their own variations.



The pastrami burger is also a nod in this direction. Though California can claim ownership, Utah has taken it and sprinted. Piles of griddled pastrami heaped onto juicy char-broiled hamburgers and slicked with cheese and the all the fixings, they are standard in Utah restaurants. As is the Utah scone, similar to the crumbly currant-studded pastries of New England only in name. A Utah scone is a mass of soft chewy dough deep-fried until golden and puffy as a seat cushion. Its roots lie in Native American fry bread, a dish conjured out of government issued rations of lard, flour, and salt. These fried disks are often the foundation for a mess of chili, beans, and melted cheese, but they are even better served sweet. Honey butter, another Beehive-State icon, is slathered on for full effect.



Since Mormon doctrine prohibits consumption of caffeine, nicotine, alcohol, and drugs, one might begin to suspect that Jell-O, cheesy casseroles, meat-topped burgers, and ice cream sundaes—Brigham Young University has five locations of its own ice cream shop to supply its students—are the allowed opiates of the community. This is not to say there is no asceticism. A 24-hour monthly fast is recommended.

http://www.theatlantic.com/life/archive/2010/03/jell-o-love-a-guide-to-mormon-cuisine/37929/



*My families just avoided anything with caffeine and did have decaffeinated items.