New Moon - Twilight Movie & Book Series

I went to watch "New Moon" at the theater yesterday, with my sister Kelly (pictured left, below). She utterly loved the movie, while Kelly has never read any of the books.

I have read the books and felt the beginning could have been planned much better -- such as the part where Bella is laying in the woods, grieving Edward's sudden departure. (Her acting just seemed to leave much to be desired, I wanted to see real GRIEF, not mere curling into a ball as though she was simply going to nap.)

Meanwhile . . . that's just my opinion. There was some really cool special computer animation and camera effects, such as how time went by in Bella's room and the werewolf phenomena. By the end of the movie I felt very glad I'd gone to see it.

REGARDING THE BOOKS: I loved book 1 (called "Twilight") more than the first movie. I hated how that first movie presented Edward as a stalking-predator-dominating personality who shows up in a young girl's room uninvited, long before she's expressed any interest in him. The book never did that. I couldn't put down the second book, "New Moon" either. By book three, "Eclipse," I began to feel irritated with Bella and wanted to shout. "Make up your mind already. Decide who you love and stop torturing the other man!"

There's just something terribly cruel about leading a man on, romantically, week-after-week and month-after-month when Bella seriously has romantic intentions for someone else, entirely. By book four, Breaking Dawn," when Bella's pregnant, nothing about Stephenie Meyer's writing makes sense. In nature, wild cats give birth to offspring born with fangs and claws but Bella can't carry a square-toothed "human" baby without having it destroy her entire body. That same book would have us believe that Jake only loved Bella because of the infant she carried, when he was obviously infatuated with Bella long before she ever became pregnant. DUMB-de-dumb-dumb!

All that being stated . . . I still think Stephenie Meyer is an entertaining writer. Her books are worth reading for that purpose -- even when I didn't always agree with the plot or story line.

Oh My Eyes. My VIRGIN Eyes! {Man Tree}

On FaceBook, my friends and I are posting things we are thankful for. Below I've posted photos of a "Man Tree" that I often see when I'm out walking my two dogs, the pug, Artemis, and my dachshund, Freya. I'm particularly thankful for this tree because seeing it always makes me laugh.

Double-click the image to enlarge it (to fully appreciate its uniqueness)

Here's the view from "SIDE ONE"

Today, we had the pleasure of having Doug accompany us. It was the very first time I had the pleasure of introducing Doug to the "Man Tree."

Here's the view from "SIDE TWO"

Enjoy the humor of it all.

Photos taken by SunTiger on Saturday, November 21, 2009.

Got My New Calendar. Item's To Update!

Updating your calendar for 2010? Here are some dates you might find handy to know. {Make suggestions if you think I need to add more dates to mine.}

2010 New Moon and Observance Phenomena

KEY: NEW MOON (NM) ~ FULL MOON (FM)

* Solar, planetary and season observances

JANUARY 2010
* Observance: Perihelion ~ Jan 3 (orbit point where Earth is closest to the Sun)

Jan 15 (NM) ~ Jan 30 (FM)

FEBRUARY 2010

* Observance: Feb 3 Imbolc

Feb 14 (NM) ~ Feb 28 (FM)

MARCH 2010

Mar 15 (NM) ~ Mar 30 (FM)

* Observance: Mar 20 = Vernal Equinox

APRIL 2010

Apr 14 (NM) ~ Apr 28 (FM)

MAY 2010

* Observance May 1 + Beltane/May Day

May 14 (NM) ~ May 27 (FM)

JUNE 2010

Jun 12 (NM) ~ Jun 26 (FM)

* Observance June 21 = Summer Solstice

JULY 2010

* Observance July 6 = Aphelion (orbit point where Earth is furthest from the Sun)

* Observance July 11 = Total solar eclipse

Jul 11 (NM) ~ Jul 26 (FM)

AUGUST 2010

* Observance Aug 1 = Lughnasad/Beginning of Harvest or Lammas/Loaf Day

Aug 10 (NM) ~ Aug 24 (FM)

SEPTEMBER 2010

Sept 8 (NM) ~ Sept 23 (FM)

* Observance Sept 23 = Autumn Equinox

OCTOBER 2010

Oct 7 (NM) ~ Oct 23 (FM)

NOVEMBER 2010

Nov 6 (NM) ~ Nov 21 (FM)

* Observance Nov 1 = Samhain

DECEMBER 2010

Dec 5 (NM) ~ Dec 21 (FM)

* Observance Dec 21 *Yule* Winter Solstice

*resource for solstices, equinoxes, etc:

http://aa.usno.navy.mil/data/docs/EarthSeasons.php

Reference for solar eclipse: NASA's website: http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/SEmono/TSE2010/TSE2010.html

Will My Home Be Haunted If I Shop Goodwill???

While providing a house clearing for a highly valued repeat client this past weekend, I was asked what I thought about shopping at thrift stores such as Goodwill. Can someone purchase a gently used item that's haunted, bring that negative juju home by accident, and suffer poltergeist activity as a result?

My experience suggests it's much more likely to purchase negatively haunted items from an antique store than from a charity thrift store. Here's why: There's a whole lot of really good MOJO surrounding charitable thrift stores.

• People who donate to charity (instead of throwing such items into a landfill) help limit the negative impact humans make on Mother Earth. Those individuals also tend to be socially conscious and their act of donating responsibly generates a whole lot of positive MOJO all by itself.
• Purchasing items from a charity such as Goodwill means the shopping dollars help special needs groups. In Goodwill's case, every dollar spent helps train those with disabilities so they can work. (Even more good MOJO.)
• Shopping thrift stores helps save the shopper's family money in a socially responsible manner (not in a way that fails to honor the artist or manufacturer of those items -- such as when shopping for products made by sweat shops).
• Ever notice, inside a thrift store, how many shoppers like to sing with the piped-in-music or whistle in tune? Such human behavior seems to be rather unique to thrift stores -- I've yet to hear customers sing like that inside an antique store -- singing, in and of itself, is good MOJO.

Negative entities tend not to hang out in places where there's so much good MOJO floating around. In contrast, items at an antique mall are most often more highly priced/valued and therefore coveted (an emotion that could be perceived as negative). If a spirit wanted to haunt an item, that entity would very likely choose a family heirloom-type-of piece rather than something that the regular person would be willing to donate to a stranger or give to a landfill. If someone working necromancy wanted to direct haunting type energies into a piece of furniture, that magician would most likely choose an item destined for a particular residence, one so valued it would be unlikely to be given away easily.

That being stated? The head of David (pictured above) and the marble-top table he sits upon are two items I purchased second-hand. Here's what the back of his head looks like:

Wooden seagull (purchased from Goodwill) . . .
AND . . . just because I was out in my yard today, taking the above photos, I thought I'd also include images of colorful plants CURRENTLY in bloom in my yard; here in the greater Seattle area.

Strawberry: The seasonal changes in this plant show how incredibly cold it's getting already (which makes the very delicate flowering plants, photographed below, seem all the more amazing).



Hawthorn berries . . . (Doug and I planted this tree just two years ago).

Wow. Best Blog Award!!! Whoo Hoo!

I feel so honored! Jennifer of Barefoot In The Sand fame has blessed "Sit For A Spell w/SunTiger" with a much treasured "Best Blog Award." In response, I am spreading the good MOJO and am now awarding 15 of my most absolutely favorite bloggers with the same badge of high honor.

Primarily? I'm presenting this honor to bloggers who regularly post the most fascinating and helpful/inspiring content to read. There are so many more blogs that SHOULD be named (that's where the recipients of this award come in).

IF YOU WERE GIFTED WITH THIS HIGHLY SELECTIVE AWARD:
Here's what you must do to collect it:

• post the above image on your blog
• publicize the name of the person who has granted this award to you
• include a hyperlink to that person's blog
• pass the award to 15 other bloggers that you have recently discovered and think are great! {NOTE: this takes a bit of time but it's very good MOJO and fun}
• remember to contact the bloggers you've awarded to let them know they have been chosen for this award
• thank the highly intelligent person who recommended you for this award by leaving a comment on their blog that you willingly accept the recognition

May you, dear reader, always feel honored for all that you do!

BLOGS I'VE CAREFULLY SELECTED FOR THIS OMINOUS AWARD:

• Dolly And The Black Dog (one of my all-time favorite blogs on topics interesting Pagans): http://dollyandthedog.blogspot.com/
• Where The Flowers Bloom (fun meanderings of a long time blogger/fun person). http://indigoblooms.blogspot.com/
• Ghost Hunting Theories (very thought provoking site I just found here recently) http://autumnforestghosthunter.blogspot.com/

ANIMAL RIGHTS BLOG

• Animals and Animal Rights In The Media Worldwide http://animals-in-the-news.blogspot.com/

FUN BLOGS ON NATURE

• First Nature Blog (mushroom of the month photos and much more!)http://first-nature.blogspot.com/
• Balcony Gardening http://balcony-garden.blogspot.com/
• Skippy's Vegetable Garden http://carletongarden.blogspot.com/
• May Dreams Garden (current topic: composting!) http://www.maydreamsgardens.com/

BLOGS ON MAKING CRAFTS/COMPUTER ARTWORK

• The Vintage Sage (folk art, vintage stuff, more) http://thevintagesage.blogspot.com/
• Pumpkins and Toadstools (recipes, crafts, more!) http://pumpkinsandtoadstools.blogspot.com/
• The Graphics Fairy (Free computer artwork) http://graphicsfairy.blogspot.com/
• Old Photo Album (Free vintage photos) http://oldphotoalbum.blogspot.com/
• The Vintage Goddess (awesome nostalgia) http://vintagegoddess.blogspot.com
• Adventures of Raw Goddess (need yummy ideas for lunch? It might be here! Awesome photos.) http://rawgoddessheathy.blogspot.com/
• Scrapping with Ikea (very artsy German lady who posts FREE computer templates, tips and fun videos/more) http://ikeagoddess.blogspot.com/
• Nancy Sting Og Ting http://nancysstingogting.blogspot.com/

HONORABLE MENTION: (these are not getting the award for obvious reasons but they are very cool blogs, since I manage them myself. :-D)

• Cyber Coven http://CyberCoven.blogspot.com
• EARTH (pagan volunteers responding to emergencies in Northwest Washington state) http://paganresponders.blogspot.com/

So Thankful For My Son: Born 24 Yrs Ago Today!

WHAT I FEEL INCREDIBLY THANKFUL FOR TODAY: November 11, 2009. 24-years ago, today, my youngest child was born. Truth is? I could never feel more proud of Greg/Onision. Watch his birthday video (hear him sing his own music; below) and, if you view this directly from YouTube you can see the amazing video responses many of his subscribers made for him in reply. Happy Birthday Onision!!!

Paranormal Halloween "What was that???"

While attending a very fun Halloween party this year, I began snapping photos. Soon as I shot this one, below, something black moved in front of the children. This photo is completely untouched. I didn't even crop it! Meanwhile, you can see the black shadow with a small white orb, below.

Here's the very next shot I took (black shadow and orb are both gone). Notice the difference in how the young boy's feet nearly disappeared in the above photo, while you can see in the very next picture that he was wearing rather bright socks.

Click to enlarge any photo. Notice the shape of that black shadow? What does the shape look like to you?

Happy Halloween Dear Boils And Ghouls!

To enlarge photo, click on it!

But That's No Reason NOT To Hire! {LOL}

Let me share how difficult making money has become for providing intuitive readings on-line. At LivePerson, customers rate their intuitive reader on a 1-to-5 star basis. That means any newcomer can quickly see how legitimate a psychic's reading will be, or not, just by looking at how many stars she has.

Sadly, that rating system doesn't stop inquirers from insulting the talent and asking for free services, question after question after question. They regularly pose as legitimate customers and post questions for the readers on the public board for all to see.

Based on intuition, I knew that was exactly what this customer, below, was up-to (wanting something for nothing). So, feeling rather tired, nine hours after many other psychics had legitimately responded to his question, I decided to throw in my opinionated two-bits.

All content, below, is cut-and-pasted exactly as it was first written. Only the login name was changed to protect the not-so-innocent begger (who could afford to tip for the services he indulges in).

{{enjoy}}

From: ThinksHesAllThat Date: 10/28/2009 6:56:12 AM [Eastern Standard Time]

I would like to request a reading about love and relationships. But I would like connection first.

From: Mystic SunTiger Date: 10/28/2009 2:57:15 PM [Eastern Standard Time]

Connection. As of 11:56 a.m. Pacific Standard Time you have not hired anyone yet. [That's my proof of connection.] Right now it feels as though you do not intend to hire.

From: ThinksHesAll That Date: 10/28/2009 10:15:26 PM

I have not hired because I am not desperate and it is not life or death situation and certainly I am not going to hire YOU!

{LOL} . . . just seems funny to me.

Good Parents Don't Allow Their Children To Scream In Public!

Something that I regularly see happening in our society truly disturbs me. It's parents who allow their children to scream bloody-murder in public. The reason this annoys me goes way beyond the piercing high-pitched temper tantrums that create a lingering buzz inside the ears of all who felt obligated to listen to it until they could escape from the restaurant, grocery store check-out or wherever else the little monster was throwing his/her fit.

It's simply NOT in the child's best interest for parents to allow them to make loud noises in public. PUBLIC TANTRUMS TEACH CHILDREN:

• Social ineptness (completely disregarding the feelings of others means the child will have difficulty maintaining lasting friendships and/or excelling later in career)
• Bad manners (People adore well-behaved children and respond with good mojo to those that act with decorum. Spoiled brats, however, just generate a lot of negative juju all the way around and that social feedback is damaging to the child!)
• Selfishness (teaching no self control or personal restraint means the child will seriously lack personal initiative and responsibility later in life).

PARENTS WHO ALLOW THEIR CHILDREN TO SCREAM IN PUBLIC ARE ALSO:

• Socailly inept (not realizing other people have a right NOT to hear your brat scream)
• Rude (good manners requires teaching your children to behave in public. A good parent also sets the example for treating others with kindness and courtesy.)
• Selfish and lazy. Being a good parent takes work. It sometimes means you must walk your screaming child out to the car until s/he settles down. Being allowed to mingle in public is a privilege and children should be taught such!

Hopefully those parents who think they are just allowing their children to "express themselves" by misbehaving in public will instead learn to give that child a paint-brush. Let art, music, singing and dance be the modes most encouraged for self expression. Bad behavior just hurts everybody and helps not a soul.

The time to be your child's friend is when that child is an adult and fully independent. While you are raising a child, your highest obligation as a parent is to GUIDE and protect them (from the limits of selfishness as well as from potentially dangerous strangers). To help a child see the big picture, to consider how others around them feel, THAT is the parent's responsibility. Teaching such will help a child soar through adolescence and young adulthood.

New Pagan Responder Website: http://paganresponders.blogspot.com/

My body is physically rebelling right now but it will only hurt until the pain goes away.

Yesterday I volunteered under the EARTH label at a sandbagging site. Turns out our predominantly natural dam (with only a few man-mad parts) has the earth literally falling out below and around it and the man-made portions are failing as well. Local governments are preparing all who live in the valley for a big flood scenario.

So we're sandbagging. Citizens are filling the trunks of their cars and pickup beds with very heavy bags and hauling them around with a sense of urgency -- to beat the typical heavy rain season here in Western Washington. It's been very rewarding to volunteer; even when I live in a much safer area up on a hillside myself (thank goodness for very strong intuition capabilties that made me insist on the hillside when we were looking for our house 5-years-ago).

Repeatedly I have had visions of the greater Seattle area all under water. In my visions I thought it was all water from the rising sound. Now, with the dam failing, I'm seeing the vision come closer to reality in a different way.

Unusual Shrub Growing Outside Stonhenge, WA

Have you ever seen this sort of bush before? Peeling back the black-outer-layer of the fruit (pictured) reveals a very hard nut-like shell. [Click on the image to enlarge the photo.]

The above pictured shrub grows just outside of the large Stonehenge monument located in Maryhill, Washington. For more pictures of that trip (that I took yesterday with my husband Doug and a couple of very fun friends) see http://CyberCoven.blogspot.com

Baby Polish Chicks