The Adventures of Jane, Marley and Cat

Hot, hot, hot.

Not to worry… we have equipment.

Last night we went to Lynell and Lynette’s for various things, and Lynette insisted that we put her extremely large suitcase in the car. “It’s the equipment suitcase,” she told us. Yeah, scared of that. Aside from snorkels, water noodles, and flotation devices, what is in there?

We leave for the airport at 9:00 p.m. tonight, and fly overnight to Miami and then to Aruba. We land around 2:00 p.m. tomorrow, when it “feels like 103″. We will likely be taking siestas during the middle of the day.

I am officially excited… to the point where I want to lie down, but I know I won’t be able to sleep. Pre-travel anxiety. You remember it from France. Actually, I’m fine. I’m going to get out of work early, go home and do laundry (and nap) and then pack. Voila!

Kidlet report: Kjarsti and Julia’s first week at school went well. Kjarsti has met new friends (all boys) and Julia loves her classes. She is the only girl in her French class. Rob is doing Rapid Eye, and loving it. It kicks his butt, but he feels so much better afterwards. John is still in Wyoming, but his news is that next week he turns 18. Three adult children. Wow. I’m old.

Hey, to all my bloggy-buddies: Have a great week, I’ll see you on the other side!

The 12th verse of the Tao reminds us that far too much attention is given to the pleasure and experiences of the senses at the expense of our inner vision. There is so much beneath the senses, and this is where our truth lies.

The master observes the world

but trusts his inner vision.

He allows things to come and go.

He prefers what is within to what is without.

Lao-tzu isn’t saying the senses are bad or wrong, they are just illusions. Those illusions create a lust for things, and you cannot arrive at a place of peace and inner satisfaction when your entire existence is motivated by not having enough.

Or for that matter… not being enough.

Where I live, women are not exactly treated in the same way men are. I rode down the elevator with a man yesterday and we joked about how neither of us were qualified for “underground” parking. He said, “I’m too young to park down there.” My response startled me. “I’m way too feminine to park there.”

I know so many beautiful, talented, brilliant women who never feel that they are enough. Not enough for their parents, their boyfriends, their bosses, their God. Not enough is the most common thread of illusion here in Utah. In a state where perfection is sought, we have more women with boob jobs, prozac prescriptions, and fantasies of suicide than anywhere else. And this is Zion?

Lao-tzu teaches that it is within that we find peace, it is within where we connect with God and see that we are not separate. If we are not separate from God, we therefore have God’s perfection to cover us. We are then enough. Perfect. Whole. Complete.

Our senses tell us we are not enough. But within, in the silence, we are always enough.

So yesterday I had this wild hair to totally revamp the look and feel around here. I’m still not sure I like it. I swear, my blog has multiple personality disorder. I so, so loved Megg’s Divine Mojo idea, that I stole it. Yup, I just up and stole it.

The blog is managed completely by CSS, so I tell myself that I am learning more CSS by changing the look and feel. You buy it, right?

So, last night I had a very interesting experience. I had my astrological chart read. I had no idea that astrology was so (and forgive me for saying this) accurate. I mean, the woman basically told me my life and when certain things happened. I know, I know, you’re all thinking, “Yeah, this is just some more of your woo”, and I guess that is true, but it was cool none-the-less.

It was also interesting because I had that old familiar feeling. I had it when I did Rapid Eye Training, and I experienced it last night. The easiest way to sum it up is I felt frustrated that I didn’t know all about astrology already. I get it that this woman has studied for years and years. I get it that she has dedicated herself to knowing this, but I was so ticked at myself that I didn’t know it already. (I know, I know, I have issues)

So I am now armed with a chart, some papers with strange symbols and dates. I think I’m going to have to find out what the heck it all means.

She did tell me that this trip to Aruba was going to be “lucky”. “Lucky?” I asked. “Yeah, like you might find something on the beach… like a rock. And your rock will be better than everyone elses.” Oh.. I was thinking more like finding something at the casino. In any event, I will let you all know about my luck.

So, we leave tomorrow night just before midnight. Upon my return I will have pictures, stories, and a great tan. I’ll be back!