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For people who don't read books- you may hear them tell those who do that they have too many books. It's something they don't understand because they just aren't into reading. For a reader, there's no such thing as too many books. I used to have a bookmark that said, "a book is a gift you can open again and again".
This same logic applies to Tarot cards. Although a few people out there have only one deck- for most Tarot card readers, many are owned. Like books, Tarot cards also tell a story. Each deck creator tells the story of the Fool's Journey throughout the deck, via whatever theme that deck is based on. Different images conjure different feelings and emotions. Depending on your mood or the kind of question you have- you'll grab a particular deck for it. Certain decks may be better for reading for other people. Professional readers will often carry a little arsenal with them to pull from depending on who comes to their table. And so- like books, there's really no such thing as too many decks.
At this point I am feeling Tarot is just for me and not a path I want to travel as a profession (or side gig). But I still use them every day, and different decks depending on the topic. I love this Game of Thrones deck- but I won't use it for my own personal questions. If you know anything about the story- it's pretty hardcore, so that's not a very "comforting" theme, lol. But I wouldn't mind using it for general things that aren't about me specifically.
For anyone who is a Game of Thrones fan who also wants to learn to read Tarot cards- this is an incredible deck for that! It mostly follows the Rider Waite system- but the thing is, if you know this story well, these cards will be super intuitive. The Wild Wood Tarot is its own thing, but one I have been wanting to get as well.
Leaving for Florida early Monday morning and coming back late Friday night. I want it to be over already. I'll be anxious the whole time, and exhausted when we get back. I hope there won't be any family drama. I always feel like I am far from my best self when it's time for any visit.
Maybe my anxiety is kicking in here. I am staying at my boss's (sp) house until next Wednesday. Yet, there's no one here, just two dogs and two cats. I hate being out of my element. I wish this was over already.
I can't sleep well at someone else's house where I don't control the temperature. That's just one of the many things. I move around a lot at home. I can't just get up and do whatever at someone else's place.
I am currently obsessing over a deck of Tarot cards no longer in print. People who purchased them while still in production sell them for hundreds of dollars. That's how anything goes- like albums and whatnot no longer being produced. Decks do come back into print here and there, and I am hoping this is one of them. Honestly, it's a mass market deck that usually sells for $20 or less when it's available. There's no sign of it returning to stores, but I am crossing my fingers. They have an app version of it, so at least I have been able to get that. The images in the deck take me to a different place- a place where I feel really comfortable receiving information and guidance. Images that remind me of my childhood... the moments I wished myself away to a better setting than the one I was usually in.
Made blueberry pancakes this morning and we started round two of watching The Witcher all the way through again :) We’ve had a couple breaks- but almost done.
This may seem lame to many of you- but my son and I love the band Toto. If you know more about music than just what sounds good to you, you know they are an incredibly skilled band. They are far more storied than their most popular tunes Africa and Rosanna- although those are indeed too notch songs!
My son is a musician- he plays 13 instruments at this time. I was a radio DJ and sang in choir my whole life as well as a couple bands while in the Marines. He and I appreciate the same kinds of things in music. We both dig Toto.
Anyhow- that leads up to one of his Christmas gifts- Toto “All in”- the boxed set of 13 of their albums. These are actually CDs that I’ll load on my computer and then to his phone. Probably the most important gift of the day.
Like my birthday and Thanksgiving- I went the easy way out (for me) and made Holiday poboys (turkey, gravy, stuffing and cranberry sauce) and pumpkin soup on the side with walnut pie for after. We haven't eaten yet- it's just prepared and waiting for my son to wake up because he had a late night of working on the university newspaper. Sometimes when I talk about poboys online I wonder how many people don't know what I am talking about. So for those of you who don't- quick rundown...
The sandwich goes back to the 1800s with immigrant workers getting the leftover scraps on bread- because that's all the "po boys" could afford. The sandwich was named the "poboy"- but today is dressed heartily. Down here, shrimp and/or oyster poboys, roast beef, turkey, and sausage versions are probably the most popular. You could describe it as a sub or hoagie- but it is different because it's made with French bread and has our particular local cuisine as it's star.
At the best poboy place in NOLA (Parkway Bakery and Tavern) you can get the turkey, graving, stuffing, and cranberry sauce poboy during the holiday season. It's something we (in my house) crave this time of year. And so it is! That's our Christmas Eve meal.
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When my son gets up, we will eat and watch the new "A Christmas Carol" on Hulu starring Guy Pearce. Then, midnight Mass later. When we get back home, he'll open his presents, because it'll officially be Christmas and he'll be 20 years old in a little over a week so doesn't need to wait for Santa :D Last night, after midnight when it turned officially 'today', we did the Jolabokaflod tradition from Iceland (Christmas book flood)- and gave him a new book and chocolate. He has several other books coming in his loot tonight ;)
Those sound so good. I think next year on Christmas Eve I will add those to our menu. Tonight we will watch Christmas classic, Nation Lapoons Christmas Vacation. The cat vs the tree lights, the jello mold with the cat food on top of it, cousin Larry and empty the pooper in the sewer. Then we also watch A Christmas Carol.
02:47 Dec 24 2019 Times Read: 1,000
My son’s present from the other side of the pond arrived! I was so worried it wouldn’t get here on time. Talk about cutting it close! *whew*
There are several Tarot decks no longer in print that I would LOVE to acquire. I am still slowly but surely building my collection. I grab different ones depending on my mood.
I think I have pretty much settled into the idea that I will *not* be a reader for other people. There's something special about using them only for yourself... and also keeps from being lumped into a pot with so many I see who are reading without the chops to really do so. Too many jump in too quickly. Too many just want to make a buck with it. Needing cash is understandable- but this isn't something you just start charging money for as quickly as people are doing it.
Then, there are people who really are good at this- yet I see their personality change as they become more popular in the Tarot sphere. I have watched their older YouTube videos where they are really down-to-earth... then after thousands of channel subscribers I see their personalities morph into fake smile snobbery. I mean... people in gothy, dark, and metaphysical sectors start out acting like they are so different from the trendy high school clicks of supposed vanilla people... but they turn into the very same with popularity. You even see it here on Vampire Rave- being 'popular' and having digital friends is the absolute main goal of so many.
I am myself 100% of the time. Authentic. Integrity. In every real way I actually walk the walk.
I appreciate anyone thinking so- but it truly is authentic. Having a goal of as many digital friends as possible is about as far from mysterious, deep, and magical as I can imagine. I mean, if you have a ton of friends and they are real connections- that's great... but if it's shallow number bullshit, it's the antithesis of admirable. OR maybe not the antithesis- just wholly lacking of anything I can admire. There is nothing to learn from, care for, or be fascinated by with such flat, empty, trifling objectives.
Not to mention Henry Cavill was outstanding in the role of it. I loved it!
21:11 Dec 21 2019 Times Read: 1,093
My son and I started The Witcher last night- only a couple episodes in, but enjoying it. He's been playing the shit out of the game in prep for learning a lot of the storyline and foundation. I think we will finish the rest of the episodes today.
I am on Eps 4. Its already being picked up for season2. Between this and the Mandalorian, it's a phenomenal time to be into scifi/fantasy. I had read the books back in 1998; might pick up the books again. Played some of all 3 games. So far only difference I am seeing from books to tv show in the books, everything is narrated through the eyes of Geralt, we meet all the protagonists through him. In the TV series, there are 3 POV.
The Christmas party for the area foster children was a big success. I can't even tell you how excited they all were to get presents. Just imagine, these kids travel from home to home with their belongings in a black trash bag. That's the universal sign of foster kid: black trash bag. There were families who came in with 6 kids, all foster kids. These parents are doing the hard work out there. They open their homes to kids who need it- willing to take on the challenges of all the mental/emotional/physical abuse struggles.
Most of the time I think about the adults who looks at these kids as problems- not entertaining how they've been treated and well-earned of their "attitudes". It takes a while to gain trust of children who've seen the worst life has to offer. Kids who've seen their family murdered in front of them, suffered abuses in the most sickening ways themselves, the list goes on with all the reasons they are now in state custody. Yet... we get to see these kids light up with happiness, hug their foster parents, give genuine "thank yous" to us, and more.
I will always be proud to serve the juvenile court system here in advocacy of these kids. I was a foster kid myself at one time, we didn't have CASAs back then.
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I am on pins and needles for one of the gifts we got our son to arrive from England. It's an eBay item (but new)- I didn't realize where it was shipping from when I got it. I ordered it on December 10. Really hoping it gets here before we are gone for a week visiting my father-in-law (29 Dec- 03 Jan). I don't want it sitting on the porch for someone to swipe (although it's possible they could fit it in the mailbox). And also, I want to him to have it for Christmas!
Headed to our CASA Christmas party... this community banded together to provide tons of Christmas presents for the foster children in our area- and we are going to give them out and celebrate with a Lion King theme. It should be an absolute blast just as years' past! Our foster kid loved her birthday presents and cake just a week ago, now she gets more :D
No, this is what you do. Get you a few bags of Cheeto's dump them into a bucket, get you a carving knife, then carve you a cheetoo that resembles baby Jesus in a manger, as if it came out from the Cheetos oven's that way. Then put that little bambino up on ebay and let the bidding start! I mean if a cheeto shaped like Harambe, the gorilla shot to death at Cincinnati Zoo, sold for $99,900 on eBay; imagine a baby Jesus in a manger shape Cheetoo I bet would go for at least 1 million!!!!! A baby jesus in a manger Cheetoo around Christmas time, you make a killing!!
20:48 Dec 18 2019 Times Read: 1,223
This holiday season is going pretty damn good for the usual setting of not having a lot to work with for gifts. We were able to get some things for our son, and it’s going to be enough to make him *really* happy even if the dollar amount spent was what it was. We don’t get gifts for us, but that didn’t matter this year! My husband won a 55” TV at his work Christmas party! The thing is just beautiful. We’ve only purchased a new TV once in the 22 years we’ve been married, so this is really a great treat!
I have a couple friends going through some major stuff. One had her son pass away out of the blue, and the other is dealing with her daughter’s stage 3 cancer. We never know exactly how someone else is feeling- but I have experienced major tragedy over the holidays before. It beyond “sucks”. Makes me feel guilty for being happy over this TV right now- but my rational mind knows I shouldn’t.
I am grateful that in this moment things aren’t as bad as they could be. I struggle with getting down on things piling up. Down times seem to have a domino effect and I wonder why it keeps being the case... perspective though.
It's ok to be happy about the TV! You and your husband deserve it for all the postive energeies you have put out into the Universe! I hope for 2020 you have less struggles and more good things!
This is funny, my neice and nephew came over today to do the cookies deco thing with Mom. I swear every where you look in the house there is a plate of cookies! Haha Just a few:
Been a helluva 2019. Blessed to still be standing. Blessed to be living in a warm HOME in a gorgeous neighborhood in New Jersey. Last couple of months have been rough. The winter months have historically sucked for me. The closer to winter it is, the more suck. Dead of winter, complete suck. Then as soon as winter passes, all turns good again.
This summer I made and burned through probably $30,000. Then last two months, two stints at Riker's, relationship bumps and bruises, late on rent/bills (but all caught up now), and now last minute holiday gifts scramble for the kids.
But, as you say, perspective. Most people around the world have genocide to deal with, hunger, illness.
Dont mean to be putting my whole life here, but hell, it's not like anyone's life is private anymore with the control we gave the government.
Happy holidays all. Cherish the people you love.
16:21 Dec 12 2019 Times Read: 1,264
When my husband gets off work it'll be a busy night. Off to the CASA office to pick up a birthday cake for our foster child case, then we visit her at home to bring it along with a birthday gift. Then we drive to pick my son up from the dorm to take him home for the Winter break. None of these places are close together, lol.
I put up the Christmas tree (I usually do it the day after Thanksgiving, but just got around to it) and am baking Christmas cookies right now. I want my son to walk in and have the stage set for holidays! Putting his favorite futon cover on and Christmas throw draped on the back. I'm looking forward to a good few weeks with him home with us!
That is cool. My offsprings are thousands of miles away. But, there is the phone!! LOL. Enjoy your Holiday!!
22:39 Dec 09 2019 Times Read: 1,317
How is everyone doing out there? Fine, I hope!
Just me... generically journaling to remind all I check my messages several times a day- so I am here ;) Keeping busy with Duolingo, and tomorrow I will have reached my 100 day streak of uninterrupted study :D
We will be going to Miami for the week of New Year's, and coming back home to see my niece at Comic Con who will probably be able to get us free admission. Haven't seen her in a few years, so this will be awesome!
I watched "The Confession Killer" on Netflix last night- binged the 5 episodes all in one sitting and started after 8PM. Couldn't stop watching that trainwreck of an investigation nightmare. Check it out.
It’s 54° outside, so this is prime time for me to be out there walking. I should be able to go pretty damn far without having to worry about any heat or humidity. Language stuff is still taking up a lot of my time along with messing around with my cards. The only problem is that all the studying I have been doing is taking away from a lot of time that I usually set aside for walking. So I really need to adjust and make time for everything. I just get on a roll with certain things and before I know it hours have passed by. When I’m at home I can be studying a lot and pause to do the things that I need to do around the house as well as any reports and phone calls that I need to make for CASA stuff. It’s easier to have hobbies within the house than outside of it LOL… But I really need to keep my Fitbit activity in the realm of important things.
As always, just because I don’t post journal entries, doesn’t mean I’m not logging in every day. Feel free to send me a message if anything is needed and I will get back with you at next login.
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