My first class was okay last Monday. A bit depressing because there’s a lot to know and the economy is crap right now. Less chance of me getting the money I need. The teacher’s a real shyster. He loves to talk, especially about himself and his successes. Hopefully this class will be money well spent when all’s said and done. I have to have a business plan by tomorrow, but he just told us to do it, not really how. I’ve been working on a draft. I’ll post it tomorrow along with the Writer’s Choice Featured Questions for next week.

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Chapter 1.1 in which Glory is not mindful of the store
Chapter 1.2 in which Glory is made to do something she would really rather not
Chapter 1.3 in which Glory thinks she might be sick
Chapter 1.4 in which Aaron makes a mistake
Chapter 1.5 in which Glory is made to see the error of her ways
Chapter 1.6 in which the circle remains unbroken

Chapter 2.1 in which Aaron makes another mistake
Chapter 2.2 in which Glory reflects on her path
Chapter 2.3 in which we learn Aaron is not really a nice boy
Chapter 2.4 in which Glory speculates on the holiness of salt
Chapter 2.5 in which Glory learns of the necessity for upper body strength, but makes do with  what she has
Chapter 2.6 in which Aaron tries to make amends, but is still pretty much an ass

Chapter 3.1 in which Glory is spat on, twice
Chapter 3.2 in which a cop is threatened
Chapter 3.3 in which someone is crying
Chapter 3.4  in which there’s more to the moon than meets the eye
Chapter 3.5  in which Glory comes face to face with an loony environmentalist
Chapter 3.6 in which Glory gets turned around
Chapter 3.7 in which Glory is threatened

Chapter 4.1 in which a doctor makes his rounds
Chapter 4.2 in which Glory is asked some awkward questions
Chapter 4.3 in which Glory adopts a pet
Chapter 4.4 in which Glory gets a surprise, but decides she should not have been surprised at all
Chapter 4.5 in which Glory explains why there are no debts where duty is concerned

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The alleged “wickedest man in the world,” Aleister Crowley, was born on this day in 1875. He was a member of several sects and founded the order of the Silver Star (Argentinum Astrum). His form of magick (as he spelled it) was unfortunately based on sex and drugs, and he died alone, scandalized, and bankrupt in 1947.

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Fortuna Redux is the Roman goddess of successful journeys and safe returns.

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On the 26th day of Hethara, the Black Land was given to Horus, and the Red Land was given to Set.

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Eliphas Levi died today in 1888.

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Fontinalia was the Roman festival held in honor of holy wells, fountains, and springs.

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The Floating of the Lamps is a Siamese holy day.

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Today is Interplanetary Confederation Day, sponsored by the Unarius Foundation (a UFO organization) in order to recognize other planets in the Milky Way Galaxy.

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The 28th day of Hethara is the Festival of establishing Horus as King and the appearance before Ptah.

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According to the old northern European calendar, this was Winter’s Day, the beginning of the winter season. Long-distance sailing and other summer activities ended, and preparations were made for the coming season.

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Kanname-Sai, “God-Tasting Event,” is a Japanese Shinto ceremony during which the first fruits of the year’s rice crop are offered to the sun goddess and other imperial ancestors. The first fruits are offered to the Shinto gods in Japan. This is the date of the Festival of Departed Worthies, lasting for six days.

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The Asatru festival of the Hengest commemorates the Anglo-Saxon settlement of eastern Britain during the 5th century by the generals Hengest and Horsa.

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The Month of Koiak Begins with the feast of Sekhmet.

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Thesmophoria was an ancient Greek festival. After retrieving pig carcasses from snake-filled chasms, women would mix the rotten flesh with seed and pray to Demeter for abundant crops.

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In Greece, Pandrosus, the all-bedewing or all-refreshing one, was a deified priestess of Minerva honored today.

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This is the birthday of Nicholas Culpepper, astrologer and herbalist.

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Near the shrine of Ebisu, one of the seven Shinto gods of luck, an annual fair called Bettara-Ichi is held. People buy good luck charms and religious images as well as sticky pickled radishes called bettara on straw ropes at stalls, which line the streets. Traditionally, youngsters run through the streets swinging these radishes at friends, shouting bettara in warning.

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I’ll be at work tomorrow at 7 am and won’t be home until at least 9:30 in the evening, and then I have to get back up at 6 am to go to work the following day. So I’m afraid there won’t be any Writers Choice questions this week either. Sorry about that. But I go on vacation on Saturday… for a whole week! And I promise, after I sleep, and sleep some more, oh and after sleep, um more sleep? I’ll try to catch up on posts here. Even if I have to write them in advance and pre-post them now that Xanga has that option.

I am also very sorry about not posting the Pagan holidays for last week. I feel guilty about it since it’s basically a cut and paste job from my old angelfire site to here, with some adjustments for previously missed typos and new info. If it ever happens again that I am unable to post, and you are curious enough to look for the days on your own, they can be found here: http://www.angelfire.com/de/poetry/Holy_Days/month.html

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Chapter 1.1 in which Glory is not mindful of the store
Chapter 1.2 in which Glory is made to do something she would really rather not
Chapter 1.3 in which Glory thinks she might be sick
Chapter 1.4 in which Aaron makes a mistake
Chapter 1.5 in which Glory is made to see the error of her ways
Chapter 1.6 in which the circle remains unbroken

Chapter 2.1 in which Aaron makes another mistake
Chapter 2.2 in which Glory reflects on her path
Chapter 2.3 in which we learn Aaron is not really a nice boy
Chapter 2.4 in which Glory speculates on the holiness of salt
Chapter 2.5 in which Glory learns of the necessity for upper body strength, but makes do with  what she has
Chapter 2.6 in which Aaron tries to make amends, but is still pretty much an ass

Chapter 3.1 in which Glory is spat on, twice
Chapter 3.2 in which a cop is threatened
Chapter 3.3 in which someone is crying
Chapter 3.4  in which there’s more to the moon than meets the eye
Chapter 3.5  in which Glory comes face to face with an loony environmentalist
Chapter 3.6 in which Glory gets turned around
Chapter 3.7 in which Glory is threatened

Chapter 4.1 in which a doctor makes his rounds
Chapter 4.2 in which Glory is asked some awkward questions
Chapter 4.3 in which Glory adopts a pet
Chapter 4.4 in which Glory gets a surprise, but decides she should not have been surprised at all

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The Nubaigai festival of Lithuania is celebrated by reaping the last sheaf of grain from the fields. On some farms, the last sheaf, called the Old Woman, is dressed and danced with. Food, drink, dancing, and games are also part of the festival.

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This is the second occasion of the opening of the Mundis Cereris. Ceres, Mania and the Manes were honored.

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Hindu worshipers of Vishnu celebrate a nine day festival honoring their god. Haribodhini Ekadasi is included in this festival. This is the day that Vishnu wakes from a four month long slumber on a subterranean bed of snakes. The faithful bathe in sacred waters, chant his name 1008 times, and make secret offerings of alms by hiding them in unripe pumpkins. People who fail to honor the god Vishnu at this time risk being reborn as roosters or human mutes.

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The second day of Mania was called the Mundus. The passage to the underworld would open to allow the spirits passage to the world of the living. The living could also travel to the land of the dead and back.

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Bast appears to Ra on the 20th day of Hethara.

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Pallas Athena was honored in Rome as the goddess Victoria, personification of success and triumph.

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The 21st Hethara was a Feast day of Ma’at.

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Chung Yeung, the Festival of High Places, is a Chinese holiday honoring the legendary scholar, Huan Ching. Living in the village of Joo-an more than 2000 years ago, he was warned by a sage to take his family into the high hills to save them from a disaster that awaited everyone in the village below. After warning everyone, he took his family away and later returned to find every living thing in the village dead. The day is celebrated by hiking and kite flying which is thought to carry away impending evils. Kites often are flown in the form of bats, fish, and butterflies, creatures of good omen. Picnics include chrysanthemum wine and special cakes said to bring good luck and career advancement when eaten in high places.

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Felicitas, a goddess of good luck and joy, is associated with the Genius Publicus “spirit of the people” and Venus Victrix.

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Ra judged the dispute between Set and Horus on the 23rd day of Hethara.

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The 24th day of Hethara was the Day of Going Forth of Isis.

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Vinalia, a Roman Bacchanalian festival was held to celebrate the tasting of the new wine. The festivals of Jupiter include the Meditrinalia today though his connection with the goddess Meditrina is obscure.

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The alleged “wickedest man in the world,” Aleister Crowley, was born on this day in 1875. He was a member of several sects and founded the order of the Silver Star (Argentinum Astrum). His form of magick (as he spelled it) was unfortunately based on sex and drugs, and he died alone, scandalized, and bankrupt in 1947.

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Fortuna Redux is the Roman goddess of successful journeys and safe returns.

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On the 26th day of Hethara, the Black Land was given to Horus, and the Red Land was given to Set. 

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Eliphas Levi died today in 1888.

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Thanks to everyone who was concerned about my mom. She’s home now after about a week of the doctors basically ruling everything out in order to assume it was the one generic thing that you can’t really check for. Basically, after copious tests and groups of doctors wandering by to ogle her charts and tell her nothing, they finally decided she had gastroenteritis, which is inflammation of the stomach lining. It can be caused by a food allergy, food poisoning, a virus, alcoholism or drug use, or some unknown reason. Basically, the doctors don’t know what causes it or caused it in this case. They told her to take prylosec (SP?) for the rest of her life and sent her home with a parting shot of morphine.

If my mother had not had insurance, I’m sure she would have been home within a day or so with this diagnosis. Instead, they kept her for observation and annoying tests. Granted the nurses were all very nice to her, but the doctors were mainly indifferent if not downright apathetic. I really do not like hospitals. I don’t think they know any more than most well read people. In fact, sometimes for all their tests, they know less. The only thing a hospital can give you are tests and prescription drugs. That’s the only thing you can’t do for yourself. And for that, they demand thousand. Quite the racket they have.

My mom is a big baby. I’m not poopooing her illness, but you can tell, when you spend enough time with her, how she acts with different people. Earlier today I caught her scarfing salt and vinegar chips, so you know she’s feeling better. I asked her if she’s feeling better and she says “a little.” About an hour later, someone calls on the phone and she was talking with this weak, slurry voice to who ever it was. It annoys me so much. I mean, she may still feel a little sick, but not as sick as all that apparently. I hate people who play a baby when they’re sick for more sympathy. If you’re sick, I’ll take care of you, but don’t play it up. If you’re just a little sick, I’ll still take care of you. Don’t act like a big fakey baby, mom.

What annoys me more is that I had a total freak out at work because of her. The day she went to the hospital, she told me she might be in the hospital when I got home. My sister is the drama queen, but she gets it from my mom. In our own ways, we both take after her. My sister gets the drama in general and applies it to every aspect of her life, but my mom is more of a moody melodrama queen. She doesn’t say much… it’s her tone and her body language. Her voice gets all low and mopey, slurry and weak. She groans and sighs as she moves. I get that from her. If I’m thoroughly peeved, there’s no mistaking it. I don’t say anything, but you can tell.

But the day she got sick, I went into work and about five minutes before we opened, my sister called the store from the hospital and told me my mom was there, and they were doing tests, etc etc. I had one hour of supervisor time before my break and being such short notice, I decided to wait for my break before asking to leave. But then I had all this work to do for this week’s merch change outs and NO ONE was around to help me because of corporate’s new policy of cutting the heck out of our weekly hours. I had to do a bunch of stuff just to get ready to open and then I had to do a bunch of stuff that absolutely had to be done which I could have given to anyone if there’d been someone to give it to. I had already been feeling migrainous (I know that’s not a word but it should be) for two days with an upset stomach and wandering headaches and tension between my eyes). Also take into account that the day before, I dropped a ton of DK books on my back and arm (DK makes these HUGE picture books and they were going on sale), and I was in a completely “I will rip your frikkin’ head off and use it as a football” mood.

So when the general manager came in, and the Inventory Manager (who I had opened with) and she were on the stock room, I went back and intended to tell them what was going on, but I ended up completely freaking out. She had sent around an email about how tight the kids section was and that she could not fit books in there the night before. I’d gone back first thing that morning and because no one else had decided to do anything about (which meant another email would have been forthcoming), I shifted the entire section to give her more room where she said she needed it. When I told her I shifted to give her room, she said in this confrontational voice that there was No Room there and she didn’t know Where I got it since she Knows how to shift. It was all I could do not to scream at her, but in my state of mind, it was entirely the wrong thing to do to challenge my competency. I am darn good at my job. If I say there’s room, there’s room. Don’t tell me you did it and you know how to do it and there’s no room because you did it yourself the previous night. No, I’m not a liar and if I tell you something, you can bet on it that there’s three frikkin’ empty shelves now in the section you told us was tight.

Halfway to tears, I ticked off my problems on my fingers. I said, I’m still sick from two days ago with this stupid migraine that never comes. My back and arm hurts from where I dropped those stupid books on it (which BTW, no one cared about at the time, no one wrote up a report for, and the other manager, who was not there, heard me crying about and asked if I’d “hurt my pride” /grits teeth/). No one filled in the manager log again, and it’s not fair that it is always left for me when I open in the morning. I said my mother is in the hospital and I NEED TO LEAVE” but I said through tears, that I would finish what I was working on because there was NO ONE to help me.

They wanted to let me go right away, but I insisted on finishing this huge project that I had started. Honestly, I needed the time to calm down before driving and to take my mind off my mom. Staying active was my only tactic. I probably scared quite a few customers who asked for help. I helped them, yes, but they probably thought I hated them. But this project, it absolutely had to get done and I knew it wouldn’t if I left.

I did apologize to them the following day for freaking out and crying all over the place because honestly, I was deeply embarrassed by my loss of control. But on the other hand, I think I needed a good cry in general with all that’s been going on and frustrations at work and at home. I haven’t sat down with my general manager yet and laid it all out on the table, but I want to. The problem is, she never does anything about anything that I tell her. Her attitude is that she is a “shoulder to cry on” but does that actually get anything done? Not usually. I know in most ways, she’s as helpless as the rest of us because of the asinine things Borders is doing with payroll and our current crop of cafe loafers, but I also feel left out in the cold with regards to the help I can expect from my coworkers. In the mornings, it seems like if I open with the Inventory Manager, he scarfs up anyone who’s free for his projects and then I end up doing everything for merchandising all on my own. I don’t typically complain because I’m a “suck it up and get it done” kind of girl, but on top of everything else, I’m just sick of not getting help when I need it (as rare as that may be).

Anyway…. that’s what happened. My mom’s home now and apparently feeling good enough to scarf salt and vinegar chips, take out the trash, and clean up her car. No wonder her stomach was sick when she eats all kind of garbage and passes up any food I offer to make for her. She has a tastycake every night before she goes to bed. She has coffee for “breakfast.” If I did not watch her, she’d only have cakes and sweats for her meals. I swear, it’s like taking care of a child and it’s always been this way. There’s a reason she used to call me “grandma” and ask me if I needed a rocker when I was still a kid… because I was always the responsible one and she was always the big child. The only good thing to come out of this is that her stay in the hospital was a good start to going cold turkey on smoking. Of course, within a few hours of her coming home she asked when I was going to take her out to eat as her reward (which I promised her if she ever quit). Mom, you are so not sick, not sick at all….

This is the reason I rarely let my family know how I’m feeling. No matter how ill I feel with my migrainous tension or my aching back and arm, she trumps me and is not even really sick aside from what she tells me. Her actions kind of negate her words. I feel like a jerk for thinking that BTW, but it’s true. She doesn’t act sick, unless she wants someone to think she’s sick, like when she’s talking to someone on the phone. I’m not unsympathetic, but in the same breath, I feel sick too (my back is a total knot), but I’d make her food and I’d take care of her if she needed it.