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Seventh House Journal
2004
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July 18- - Sept 3
July 18, Hot, Hot. Finally started watering the lawn before we
loose it all (not much left as it is. This has been one of longest and
earliest summers.
July 19th - My progressed sun just went into Sagittarius on the 16th
but I was too busy to take note of it. I really think this is a very
good sign. We'll see if something starts to shift here shortly
"You have a great talent for putting your thoughts into words,
even though it's Monday, so don't let it go to waste. Explain your feelings to
a partner or create an opportunity for a free-ranging discussion. You need to
air your views about something that's important at the moment. You could also
be inspired to write some chatty letters or e-mails. Positive colors are
pistachio and navy."
Spent the day finishing up and editing project, then got a late afternoon call
that we need to present tomorrow. Checked the dog into the kennel, got
organized and then headed to bed early
July 20th
Got
a 6:30am flight down to California and spent several hours finishing up our
presentation.
Did a presentation to a perspective client -- went as well as could be
expected but I think the competition is too tough. The company was trying to
make a decision as to what technology they wanted. Essentially we
were up against both the Borg and the Evil Empire with us pushing Gorg
technology. The bid was a nice size engagement (400k +) and my
portion would have made it worth my while to do it BUT I just don't think
we made the cut and I don't think that we actually have the resources to
do the whole job anyway.
Got
a 7:00 flight back out. Grueling day.
July 21
picked
up one freshly groomed puppy.
Don't
know where I got the energy but the writers group met as usual tonight.
I think everything is starting to catch up with me.
July 22
Got the carpet cleaning people in after rescheduling them four
times.
Puppy and I went down to meet TWI flight from the east coast. He's now
home for good. This is going to be a shock. We haven't lived in
the same house full time in 3 1/2 years
July
23 Its in the 90s. As someone who grew up in Southern California and
lived in Arizona this shouldn't be to bad but our house captures and holds the
heat. 92 degrees outside is pushing 98 in my study and over 100 in the
bedroom. We didn't do much today except watch TV and run errands
(thought hitting Costco on a Friday afternoon might be better than a Sat
morning.
July 24
If I
thought yesterday was bad today was even worse. We hit 100 today in our neck
of the words. When we were at the theater the trip through the parking
lot felt like I had been magically transported to Tucson. The other
thing I found out was that it isn't my imagination that it seems to get so
much hotter in the evening. Turns out the hottest part of the day is
at 5:00.
Went to see Spiderman 2. Himself thought it was much better than I did.
Too much angst for no purpose, plus I don't find Tobey Maguire all that
appealing in this role. Talked to some friends later the next day and
they felt the same way. I think it all depends on whether or not you
liked it in comic book form.
July
25 Did the annual trip to the Bellevue art show. I don't think I've
ever been to an art show where the prices struck me as so out of reach.
Some of the things I thought were too high last year were now $25 to $50
higher this year. I guess the rich do get richer and the poor get
poorer.
July 26th
Dream - Don't really remember much except looking down at a pair of navy
blue shoes to find they've completely fallen apart -- the leather is cracked
and torn and they are completely unwearable.
Spent the day writing a column. Actually not bad for me
-- started and finished the writing in one 10 hour day for 1700 words.
I think this is a first
Did a tarot reading for a friend on his job situation. Not sure why he
wanted it done -- he's as intuitive as they come.
July 27th
Even
though it was a Saturday I spent
the day working on my files so I could develop some training. Got up to
22 different personality that you could run into at work but by about 4:00 my
brain had turned to mush and I wanted to lay down for an hour before we went
to the show
Went
to see King Arthur -- much better than I expected as long as you don't
expect anything traditional.
I'm
not sure when I've ever seen such a blood red moon. According to Fred
Espenak (the knower of all things:
"Certain atmospheric and astronomical conditions will cause the Moon to
appear red or copperish red. Dust particles in the Earth's atmosphere
removes much of the bluer colors in the sunlight so only the redder colors
make it to the Moon."
What that usually means is that there's a forest fire some
where but in this case I haven't read about anything in the area.
July
28
7
years ago we started a mailing list that has members all over the world.
For the past few months we've had problems with it but TWI finally got it back
up and working today. The response we got from our members was fantastic
and we picked right back up where we left off. Spent more time than
usual responding and getting a discussion going but its important to get
things back on track.
Not a
lot to review -- we all need to start writing again.
July
29
Basically
a repeat of yesterday. Again this group is one of my most valuable
political and professional assets and cultivating it is something I should be
doing.
Board
meeting at my house for the writers group. More work to do...
July
30th - Went to see Manchurian Candidate - It's not a bad movie but given
that the original is on my top 10 list of movies - this one doesn't measure up
at all.
July 31
Dream - I have to get a presentation done and I'm behind doing it. A few
friends are over checking it and I have 10 minutes before I have to leave and
they're finding errors and it's unclear if we have time to reprint. (Not sure
this is a dream or just a day in the life)
Two
raccoons decided to come over the animal highway today at about 6:30 in the
morning. They were fat and healthy
Did
a barbecue with friends. Nice relaxing evening. Sort of an
impromptu kind of thing. They brought dinner and fixed it over here.
I have to admit I have a thing about blue moons and eclipses. We
ended up sort of busy and weren't able to do the ritual I'd planned. I
found this on the web and thought it was simple enough to work for
everyone A Blue
Moon ritual
As
the Moon increases in Mansion 25, Uranus joins Mercury in a place where
he is very much at home…This is the Mansion of the ‘Rebel,’ Uranus
himself. When these two planets team up in such an eccentric and
original Aquarian Mansion, nothing should remain the same. Fighting the
energy would only end up causing stagnation (or painful experiences…or
both) and who wants that??? Mercury loves to wallow in the
unpredictable aura of Uranus…and he will do whatever he can to help
bridge the gap between the past and the future by disseminating Uranus’
ideas far and wide.
With the Moon growing full in this powerfully
evocative Moon Mansion, we can expect our dreams to focus more on the
future…more on what we want out of life, what we want to get across and
what we want to personally manifest for the greater good of all. Our
‘far-out’ ideas and schemes may suddenly seem workable! We may finally
be able to see a path to follow, a way to get our act together and
increase our confidence in our self, our beliefs, and our future.
August 1
Spent all of Sunday writing a marketing pitch. I think it was a waste of
time.
August 2
August
3rd - reviewed a manuscript proposal in around 6 hours. This
is a record for me. Then I spent the next 7 hours pulling together my writing
to take to an interview on Weds.
Note: 4/26/07 -- Sometimes I'm so
cryptic in what I write here that I can't even remember the incident.
So a little background might be in order. KJ ended up involved with
a small local firm staffing firm. They were very much into hard sell
and essentially promised us that there was lots of immanent work i
August 4th - Talked to a girlfriend I've been out of touch with for about
a year. It was fantastic to talk to BC. I really missed her.
As usual it was a combination of mothers and work but I certainly understand
that.
August
5 - Spent time working on material for a class - The problem is I'm torn
between sure things, and investment opportunities of which I have too many.
August 7th
In
the midst of a heat wave I wasn't sure was ever going to break it's cooled
off and we've gotten 3/4 of an inch of rain. Thank heavens.
- I think we're trying to set a record for going to the movies.
Saw Harry Potter. LOVED IT. Always nice to say that --
considering we've been luck warm on some of the other films we saw.
I've been working with RD on how to read tarot cards and I asked him to read
for me as a practice run. With a well shuffled deck I got 7 majors.
I'm still trying to work out the details. I think it counts as a big
reading.
August
8th Back on Feb 13th I said I was doing something with my roses, since
according to Feng Shui roses can attract job opportunity. In February
there seemed to be lots of possibilities and they all evaporated which might be
the result of my failure to tend to my roses. Anyway today I went out and
pruned, fertilized and watered. We'll see if things pick up.
August 9th -
Spent
the morning on the phone with a perspective client don't know if it will
amount to anything and they now want me to write a white paper.
Spent
a large part of the day trying to figure out how to write the white paper --
seemed to waste a lot of time but didn't write a word
Decided
to work on this web site. I find it interesting that I've never really
noted the time I've spent working on the journal. I updated the first
house back to 1982. Amazingly I remember most of what was going on
except for 1984 which seems to have been a year of plodding along.
Actually I probably do remember some key events -- I did some work on a
competency index and organized my first community of practice.
Interesting since I'm doing the same thing again. I also noticed that
the hermit and the hierophant have been significant watersheds in my life.
back up
in the 90s. I think it really is global warming
August
10th - Long talk with some folks about a possible job opportunity.
Bottom line is I once drank the Kool-Aid that someone what selling me and I
swore to never do it again.
August
11 - usual Wednesday night activity.
August 14th -
Went
to the Ren faire. The weather was just too hot to stay long and we
didn't really want to buy anything but it was fun none the less. It was
also the first time we'd been down to Gig Harbor. Reminded us of Cape
Ann
We'd
just settled in for the night when our friends called and said they were
bringing they're suits and coming over to join us in the hot tub. They
really are night owls compared to us.
August 15
New
Moon
Three
of Wands, Inverted: It's not fiery ambition that guides you now. The softer
glow of long burning embers correctly portrays your position and outlook.
For some reason of inner resolution, the financial aspect of your work is
not what's moving you along. Willpower has been used and has gotten you far.
But, you're feeling the gentle warmth of satisfaction from tasks
accomplished. One of the goals up ahead may be blocked at the advent of this
new moon. The delay should not give you great concern. After a pause, you'll
move swiftly and surely to finish a demanding project.
August 16th
Actually
got most of the first draft of the white paper written. I decided to
simply write what I knew.
Meeting
with some folks about doing a training course. This is a strange deal --
might be real might be a figment of someone's imagination. On the other
hand I got to know RM better and I think she'll fit right into our social
group.
August 17th
Finished
the white paper and sent it off for review, it's a sales document for a
perspective client in Denver.
a number of long conversations about different business development
opportunities
Updated
this journal a little more
Spent the evening being a veg in front of the boob tube.
Have to admit I was shocked at two of the new shows this summer -- explicit
sex and nudity and this was on one of the normal cable channels.
August 18
Decided
to spend a little while weeding and pruning. Had to get it done early
because the heat has been so constant its not even worth commenting on any
more. If my actions on the 8th were suppose to do anything I haven't
seen it. Pruned the roses back again. We'll see if the third time is the
charm.
The
writers group met and we actually ended up with lots of material to review.
GD is back with us and his comments are always appreciated. I put in the
piece I finished up on Monday. It needs so much work.
August 19
Spend
the entire morning looking for literary agents for my friend and then editing
her first three chapters.
Found out a that a business opportunity I thought would happen now looks very,
very unlikely -- depressing but such is life.
I
find it kind of funny that I've never mentioned before how much I hate doing
laundry. When I finally breakdown and decide to do battle with it, it
consumes my whole day.
Came
up with a great low-carb recipe for cottage pie -- the secret is Low-fat
ricotta in the cauliflower (not part-skim milk). I don't know if I've
really mentioned it much but I've gotten the religion and I've stuck to it
pretty well (with the exception of my evening cookie). I'm back down to
what I weighed in the fall of 1997. Still have a lot to go (15lbs) but
I'm hopeful.
August 20th -
Spent
the morning planning out the menu for the party tomorrow. Also set up
the wine cheat sheets and made up a shopping list.
Had to visit 4 stores to get most everything but a decent head of cauliflower.
Can't believe this took the whole day.
Got everything put away for tomorrow and spent some time coming up with new
Low-carb recipes for pork chops.
spent the evening updating this journal again. I really don't know why
it's so important but something seems to be driving me.
August
21st Vinalia Rustic - A day sacred to Venus as goddess of grapes and
groves.
Got
the yard set up only to be visited by Kalseru (our official borrowed rain
goddess here in the PNW) -- You have to understand I mean it rained.
Three inches in about 18 hours. Needless to say the party had to be held
in doors
TWI and I spent the day getting ready for the party. The appetizers
worked out very well and a friend who's parents are from Spain helped with the
Paella. I'm a good cook but it was great learning from someone who knows
the dish as a normal part of living and cooks it regularly. For those
who care the secrets are no onions -- just lots of garlic and the rice (which
should be Arborio) needs to get crusty on the bottom. Finally I used 2 tsps of
saffron and cooked it in the chicken broth for 20 minutes before I started the
rice. It was wonderful. In fact I think it was the best Paella we've
every had.
The party itself was somewhat of a surprise - got our wires crossed with one
couple who didn't come and the hubby of another had to pass. We tasted 6
bottles of Spanish wine. The surprising thing was that they all tasted
like something else. The whites were closest to Sauvignon blanc, then we
had reds that tasted like a Zinfandel , a Merlot, a Cabernet and a Beaujolais.
The two best in my opinion were the white (a 2002 Nora) and the red that
tasted like a Zinfandel
August
22 - We didn't move a muscle. Watched Big Fish - Ok but not worth
adding to the video collection and Girl with a Pearl Earring a quiet little
movie that was well acted and well worth the time to watch.
August 23
Dream - Strange dream. I was living in a house and needed to take in
some roommates but it wasn't going well. They were getting into my
things and disrupting my reasonably well ordered existence. What was
particularly strange in the dream was that my father was laying a brick
walkway out in the yard. The dream ended with a scene of a large spider
(that one of my roommates was keeping for some reason) jumping on top of my
pet tarantula and trying to bite it. I was scared but I reached over and
pulled it off.
woke up this morning feeling like the old woman with her cane. I really can't
take temperature shifts from 85 down to 60 without getting krinky
August 28
- Took
the dog to the dog park. He loves it and its the one time he's actually
sociable and friendly to almost everyone.
August 29
- Went to a concert that included a number of rock groups from the 60s.
Herman's Hermits, Chad and Jeremy, Jim Lewis and the Shondels, and the Grass
Roots
September 2
- Had
one of those experiences for the book. Got a piece of food stuck in my
esophagus. Ended up in the hospital. Stupid, stupid, stupid also one
of the most painful experiences of my life.
September 3
Checked
the dog into the kennel.
Flew to CO for combination meeting, family and business.
Flight was ok and company was good. Had some seriously good Italian wine
with a friend who knows everyone in the business.
Lughnasadh came and went this year without me noticing. Seems to happen some years and I'm not sure why.