Eagles and Dragons

Dragons on Lake Superior. Now that's a sight to see. Dragon Boat Races. The very name conjures up images of dragons racing. Today's event will an exciting one to watch. My sis is planning on attending cause two of her daughters are in it. Go Nieces.

I haven't been on my second favorite haunt for some time. Not as regularly as I used to be. That's cause this month is Camp NaNoWriMo which I think most everyone who knows me knows that anything involving NaNoWriMo means writing, writing and more writing. Teehee. I check in occasionally, at least once a day, check the status of my cafe and farm, contribute where I can and get back to writing.

I've only got 19 miles left on the Nikes. Yesterday's walk was okay, in fact, it was a bit exciting. I saw an eagle while rounding the corner down by the lake. It's colors were striking against the bright blue of the sky. Then as I was entering the home stretch, I encountered a group of motorcyclists inquiring about a route. Hey, that reminded me of the old days when we had nothing better than lost tourists, motorists, whatever, to break up the monotony of our day.

A couple of the kids would be asked how to get out of the village. Inevitably, someone would send them to Big Point. Then wait in the ditch to watch as they eventually found their way out. Well, there was no TV to keep us out of mischief. Most times, we didn't get in trouble either because we rarely had witnesses to our little bit of fun. Any adults around meant, of course, that the right directions would be given.

Still, when one has a map and sees that a village is located on a peninsula, why does one need to ask how to get back the way they came? Why does one try to keep forging ahead even though they have the directions? Why doesn't one just retrace their steps back to where one knows where one is at?

Naturally, this logic didn't help when we were being interrogated about our direction giving skills. Any punishments for our lack of compassion didn't deter us in future escapades either. All this changed only when we were in our teens. Still, I think the temptation is there.

All this quickly went through my head as I watched them round the corner. I knew they'd stop and ask. One might have had suspicions. The passenger said he knew how to get to the PD. I had to explain how to get to the four corners and remind the driver that his passenger knew the route to the PD. Must have been the hint of mischief on my face.

I will be leaving shortly to join my sister as we journey to the Dragon Boat Races to watch the Dragons. Imagine that. Eagles and Dragons. Good thing I know the way.

Search for the Latest Interesting News

Apparently, I've missed something in my searches on the 'Net. If I mention some product, book, etc., I Must post a disclaimer, explaining the hows and why of the referral. Haven't looked up the exact regulation yet. It's on my "List of Things to Look Up." Methinks I must red ink some of those topics as soon as I can. It is amazing to me that this came up while searching out information about the tournaments. Thus, you will not be subjected to any more such referrals until I find out more about this disclaimer stuff. Had hoped I'd be able to line up my little ducks all in a row as I went along. Someone is using them for target practice before I get a chance.

As witness this post. I started it earlier this morning. Then I posted some comments, read some blogs, one thing led to another and before I knew it, I had signed up for something called Writer's Platform-Building Campaign. In the course of finishing the assignment, I suddenly was warned that a site had a malware, advised not to proceed unless I trusted the source, etc.

I immediately logged out of my browser {by the way, I no longer have to wonder about Google Chrome and Malware} and ran my trusty security program. Then did another check with another one. In the meantime, a third one started. {the aforementioned one that likes to interrupt my Cafe and Farm whenever I'm in a hurry.} Six hours later, here I am. Will be finishing what I started this morning.

Somehow, I will persevere and continue on the path I have chosen for the next portion of my journey. Tests notwithstanding, I hope to get my little ducks all in a row.

Beliefs, Values, Traditions

Read a preface today that said the Chippewa called winter "waboose" and that the symbol was a white buffalo withstanding the effects of winter.  I grew up with the knowledge that waboose meant rabbit.  I'm not familiar with the White buffalo as symbol of winter.  

It feels like everything I grew up knowing is now wrong.  I was taught by my elders about many traditional ways.  My family practices old ways without thinking about it.  That's how ingrained the values and beliefs are.  I had/have role models who lived the life, who showed me without my asking, and explained what seemed to me to be a contradiction.  

Part of the process of solidifying my life foundation was going through my value system and  leaving behind what didn't belong to me.  I learned that I couldn't step into another's steps all my life.  I had to make my own tracks.  I was told by an Elder teacher "you already know" when I was going to ask her something.  This made me think.  I do know.  I do live my life according to what I was taught and it has served me well.

The thing I remember the most, and also the thing I most fought, was "think, figure out how you are going to do this, which ever way is easiest, best for you."  I didn't want that. I wanted someone to do for me.  I wanted to be a child while still having adult privileges.  It doesn't work that way.  

"The Look" is sufficient to get me to correct my behavior, or make me think about what I am doing at the moment I get "The Look"; not always what I want to know either.  "Be quiet and listen" sometimes gets me the knowledge I've been seeking, sometimes without even knowing it.  "Shh" gets my attention now.  "Munge" means I need to look elsewhere because "don't know" can mean several things, likeliest, they don't have time and this is the polite way of saying so.  

One of the most irritating values is "sharing" because it is the one most taken advantage of.  I share.  Others share.  The thing is your family needs must be met before others.  It is out of the "more than you need" category that sharing comes into play.  "Don't have" means just that.  I don't have enough to give you.  My mom says what little we have is shared out.  I sometimes dread this one because little ones most often need to be taken care of and the parent knows this.  Along with sharing is "Replace what you took." That one gets ignored.  

Leaving behind what didn't belong to me included false teachings-ones that were twisted out of recognition.  I struggled with some of them; finally remembered things that helped me sort things out.  Once I got a dream answer.  The world began to make sense, I was finally home.  I know where I come from and I know where I'm going.  Getting there is what makes life worth living.
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added 02 Jul 2012
here is a link that explains a little more about the value system I grew up with
native-art-in-canada.com/index.html

When all else fails- read the directions

Reading directions is the hardest thing in the world to do.  It has to be.  Otherwise, there wouldn't be so many people who try, try and try again before they give up and read the directions.  I find myself doing the same thing.  Have to remind myself to read them.

Once I looked for days for the directions on how to use the phone's answering machine.  My son set it up, took the messages, deleted them, set up everything on it.  Then I needed to clear the machine and change the greeting.  My son was busy and couldn't help.  Everyone else just knew how to pick up the phone and answer it.  I started by hitting the buttons, set up, menu, redial.  Tried to hit the forward, back. Nothing worked.  Then had to hunt up the directions.  Trying to set up my website was an ordeal.  Even with the directions, it was difficult.  Now, I can do both with ease.

I mention this because my brother had to read the directions for his phone as it was costing him minutes each time he tried to use the speaker thingy.  I was interested in how it worked also.  Not to the extent of trying to figure it out though.  He might not have had any minutes left and I'd have to get some more for him.  Pretty expensive lesson that would be.