Seven

Seven is an interesting number . . . apparently there are . . . seven chakras . . . seven Catholic sacraments . . . even seven deadly sins. Now, I will share with you, seven weird/random facts about me (and I do this on a truth or dare, aka being tagged).

1. I was hit by a car when I was two and was in a coma for 4 days ('splains alot)

2. I was hit by a car again when I was 19 but managed to jump to safety (woo hoo!)

3. I organized my entire high school track team of 50+ girls to hide from the coach on April Fools Day. It took us 1.5 hours to get back, and we still had to run the practice. Ahhhhh, they took it in stride (no pun intended)

4. When I was in college I was in a special freshman program in engineering. We were able to participate in an independent project, and my friend and I picked "Jupiter listening post." We built this giant antennae out of pipe, hooked it up on the roof of the Technological Institute, and had to try to listen to radio waves at 3 am in the winter of 1979. It didn't work. And I'm not kidding that I did that.

5. Two toys I lusted after that I never had: my friend's easy bake oven and my brother's chemistry set. I ended up graduating in materials science in college, taking about 10 graduate level chemistry classes (still don't like chemistry that much) but I love to cook! Hmmmmm . . . . note to self: not all things our children want, we should give them . . .

I only have two left. Thought to self: what are the really important things that I should share. Second thought to self: who cares?

6. I drink alot! I especially like Italian white wine. In fact, I don't really drink anything else. I had one beer in Italy. Other than that . . . Italian white. Plus one lovely glass of a Sardinian dessert wine . . . amazing, full of funky digestif herbs. Yummy!

and . . . #7. Two tattoos: dragonfly on the shoulder and phoenix on the lower back. What's next?

Where does fall end?

What I mean is, does anyone know where the 'actual' boundary is between the deciduous plants whose leaves turn fall colors and eventually drop and the tropical plants who make it greenily through four seasons? Probably not a sharp line of demarcation, but a gentle infusion of both plants on both sides until they just don't survive past their zone. I know the hardiness plant zones 9 - 10 are considered tropical, and they start up in northern Florida, southern Texas, and Mexico. So maybe I just answered my own question. But I still wonder if you can see it, from like a salletile map, the colors changing and then turning into the dull brown and evergreen that is left for winter next to a bright green of tropical mesh heading southward.

Well, I didn't get too far on the maps. . . so I guess zones that rule out deciduous plants due to heat intolerance miss out on the fall color. Someone should invent a deciduous tropical plant, I guess. Here's some more info on fall colors . . . so pretty.

http://www.wchstv.com/newsroom/wx/fallcolorfaq.shtml

Here in north Atlanta we still have very pretty color, our trees holding onto most of the leaves until just recently when we (finally) got some rain. OK, is it a bad thing when you talk about the weather on your blog (running out of things to say?).

Thanksgiving on the Fly

Hey - how about this- you can get a complete T-giving meal for 6, turkey, ham, and all the fixins', at Cracker Barrel for $49.99. I just ordered two! I can make a couple pies and be done with the whole thing! Now my only decision . . . pinot noir or beaujolais . . .

And when I'm there I can pick up everybody's Christmas gift. Kewl!!!

One Word

I received one of those emails that you have to send back to the sender, but this one was really fun. Actually, it was heartwarming. The basic idea is to describe the person in one word, not necessarily an easy task. I received a lot of great words! (Don't know if I agree with them all, but they certainly are flattering . . . I think . . .) Here they are:
1. free-spirited
2. exotic
3. dream-maker
4. rare
5. adventuresome
6. giving (twice)
7. FUNKY!
8. beautiful
9. friend
10. tenacious
11. vivacious
12. funny
13. creativ-ique
14. priceless

and for my favorite: funkadelic!!!!

Tribute to Jon Hunt

My friend, Jon, died exactly one month ago. I knew him when we worked together at the IBM chip facility in East Fishkill, NY. His ex-wife, RoseMarie, got in touch with me to let me know what happened. RoseMarie was a good friend to me as well, and we enjoyed many fun times together when I lived there. They endured my changing relationships, from husband, to boyfriend, to new husband, and were always supportive and accepting!

Jon was a Vietnam Vet . . . a devoted father and son . . . and a good friend to everyone that he met. He was one of the most genuinely kind, funny, and intelligent persons (OK, the grammar doesn't sound right . . . help!) that I have ever known.

I haven't seen him for 20 years but I still feel the connection. I know that somewhere I have a picture of him with his big goofy grin, but I can't locate it right now, so you will just have to take my word for it. His heart was enormous!

I remember when I transferred into IBM marketing, the Chicago office, he and Ro came to visit, and I gave him a quick tour of the office, introducing him as my 'best friend from work.' He really was. He was so much fun. I will never forget him.

She is grieving, still, as is their son, Rick. Please say a prayer for them. He will not be forgotten, he is so alive.

Blessings

I believe that I have been blessed with friendships; to be included in someone's life dream; to be trusted to act in their best interests. Assisting them does not seem like work, it seems fun! Do you think they realize that?

In any case, only good comes from good. So . . . blessings to you, my dear friends. Namaste.

Transformation of Space

Since I've returned from Italy and Cleveland :-), I've been a bit busy, helping my friend Nava (Manrisa) Alkalay open her new massage therapy and wellness center: Nava Sen Spa. Sen is the Thai name for energy meridians, similar to Chi in Chinese. Nava is her given name; she converted from Buddhism to Judaism to marry her husband, Ronnie. She was born in Phuket, Thailand; moved to NYC to operate her family's gem business, and later to Atlanta after she married Ronnie. Luckily, our friend Sharon who is an exec for a major Atlanta ad agency has provided the decorating, graphic designers, photographers, writers, and print work/signage gratis and it is phenomenal!! Now all she needs are clients. . .

Check out this room - wish you could be here for the grand opening this Sunday. I can't wait for my first Thai Yoga massage . . . I've never had one!

This is Steve and me! And Sue and Nava, crushing us with the herbal balls . . . more on that later. We're famous!!! At least we made the cut for the brochure . . . :-)

Around the world in . . . no time, actually!

Yesterday my friend Nava took me to an Atlanta Thai Buddhist Center to celebrate the Kathina Robe Offering Ceremony. Many times we had talked about going to meditate, but this was very special. She was so convincing that both John and Gavin had to accompany us! We were to wear all white, so that we could be pure and accept the monk's blessing. We gave a donation, and both were asked to make a 'wish.' I am not sure what Nava wished for, but mine was easy.

I hope I get this right, but Kathina is the frame that is used to sew the monk's saffron robes. This ceremony must always take place within the month following the rainy season. The history behind this: 30 monks were on their way to meet Lord Buddha, and got caught in the rains. Their robes were muddied and ruined. Lord Buddha granted them a grace period to get new saffron robes, known as Kathina, which must take place one month after the Buddhist 'lent' period.

http://www.dhammakaya.or.th/events/501104_kathina.php

I can't help but think of Hurricane Katrina . . . probably just a coincidence.

Water does not make for clean clothes, or anything else! But certainly, the rainy season in Thailand is a fact of life . . . and is expected, prepared for.

The Atlanta Center had a beautiful day for the event; yummy Thai food was served outside in tents. The boys enjoyed the headphones that translated (at one point, Gavin shouted out to the entire crowd: "It's working!!!!!!" Everyone laughed).

I felt so blessed to be included and to have a friend that would introduce me to this special celebration.

สวัสดีค่ะ

http://www.thai-language.com/audio/P200187.wav

The Atlanta center, which is the Georgia Meditation Center, doesn't have a good web site, so if you want to view more, check out the Thai site that has many international affiliates.

http://www.dhammakaya.or.th/index.php

Is there anybody alive out there?

THAT WAS FUN!!!!!!

Read the Rolling Stone article (click on Bruce!):

Thanks to Loren and Sylvia, our gracious hosts . . . it was so great to see you again!

Magic

Going to see the Boss in Cleveland tomorrow, bright and early. In the meantime, his 'magic' has worked its spell on me(thank you to Allyn for my bootlegged copy), and I finally am making an effort to upload some of our photos from Italy. (Message to self: set the resolution on the camera to low so that major edits are not required for uploading photos online . . .)

I have uploaded photos to web sites but can't find a way to post access here . . . I will figure it out!!!

http://www.dotphoto.com/Go.asp?l=suzengarden&P=C687&SID=182051&Show=Y

Ciao!

Suzanne

Blog webs

My blog has cobwebs . . . no one (me) posted!!!

I am struggling to deal with reality since my trip to Italy. It felt unreal. I haven't yet posted the photos. It was too indulgent a trip. I can no longer function in the real world.