Blog Memory Lane

I had not been back to my Alma Mater in forty years. But here I was driving down once familiar streets, craning my neck at buildings renovated and reinvented that housed me, fed me and schooled me many years ago. This return visit was not by chance, but by invite. I was to be a guest speaker to a group of communication majors. Me. The girl who graduated with a degree in science was returning as an author of literary fiction.

Strange how life has its way with you; how a barely eighteen year old with the dream of being a journalist finds herself taking Anatomy and Physiology, Physics and Biology. The dreams I left behind remained dormant waiting to energize again when the timing was different, better; when life said it was okay to be what I always wanted to be.

I stood before a group of students recounting my journey from graduation using the metaphor of shoes. With lines taken from Forrest Gump in the film of the same name I weaved my way through the maze of days, months and years.

“Mamma always says you can tell a lot about a person by their shoes, where they are going and where they have been. I bet if I try real hard I can remember my first pair of shoes.” Forrest Gump

Perhaps some of the students listening never saw the movie. Too bad. Despite its length there were some memorable lines, chunks of wisdom like the one above that might serve as a guide in the future. My shoe metaphor allowed me to travel through the decades since I’d last walked that campus and each different pair put me in another mind set, on another journey.

I told the young men and women listening, to nurture the friendships they will make while in college and to live their lives with passion. I told them also to believe in their dreams and to do whatever it is that ignites the fire inside. Let that flame burn hot, I said, for a life without passion is no life, why it live any other way.

For the record, my next pair of shoes might be flip-flops; I want to see where they will take me.

Blog what you say, see, hear, and feel.

Linda

Spooked but Good

Halloween and all the ghosts and goblins will be ringing doorbells seeking treats. The moon overhead is in Sagittarius which should allow for some fun. This moon likes to spread out, no fences or boundaries. With this moon honesty is the best approach. Friday and Saturday are Good Days for Good Spirits. Sunday blips across the screen early in the morning. Capricorn Moon will be there when the clock has fallen backward. We all get an extra hour. This moon is more serious than the last and she asks us to adhere to the rules. We hate rules but without them chaos would reign. Try not to protest too much.

If you have the power to vote, please use your power. We live in the United States of America and we should be proud of the privilege to vote. We should exercise our right to choose and respect the choices offered. No matter who wins, we need to be Americans first. Do your homework before voting. Know your candidates and what they stand for...make effective use of your rights as a citizen of this great country. Do not vote on emotion. Be an informed voter, know the facts, all the facts. The Capricorn Moon will leave us with a NO Day on Tuesday-Election Day. The Moon goes into Aquarius after 7pm. Aquarius loves change, but also surprises. Expect the unexpected with this moon. Upsets are often an outcome.

Have the best day everyday and continue to fight-the-fight.

Linda

New Moon...Two Good Days

New Moon in Scorpio on Tuesday, this is a Good Day after 8am. Use the new moon to begin a new idea or project. When the moon reflects on us in Scorpio your new beginning may have taken months of research, you might appeal to a corporation or large mass of people. Medicine may be involved or things related to surgery. Begin at a new moon and complete on a full moon, this give you two weeks. Wednesday is also a Good Day, just remember that Scorpio drains us emotionally. Nothing short of intense is the mode of action. Keep no secrets, tell all, the truth must be told; all this applies to Scorpio. By Thursday(1:45am)the moon goes void and does not return until just after 6:30pm. The entire day is one to chalk up, not worry on and do not expect too much from. Make no definite plans and do not attempt to succeed. Sagittarius will take over and gives us all the luck and optimism we missed for a day. This energy takes us through Friday and Saturday.

Have the best day everyday and continue to fight-the-fight.

Linda

Weekend Update

For those of us who are looking forward to some Good Days we've got a nice weekend ahead. Friday the moon remains in Virgo where she whacks us with details and minutia but sometimes we must cross our T's in order to succeed. This same energy reflects into Saturday so be sure to bring your lists wherever you travel. Don't get bogged down by them, try to not worry too much about what doesn't get accomplished. There is a brief space between 9pm and 11pm on Saturday when the moon goes off to change hats. She comes back in Libra asking us to please think in two's and spouting all sorts of wisdom regarding how much better life would be if we all got along. Partnerships are highlighted, be sure to take advantage of this if you are in a relationship. This same Libra Moon will welcome us into Monday all day, another Good Day.

Many thanks to all who have supported the efforts of individuals and groups this month in raising breast cancer awareness. The simple fact is that we all must stay aware of our own health and those we love. Fight-the-fight and keep hope alive and well.

Have the best day everyday.

Linda

Sun Enters Scorpio

On Wednesday, October 22nd the Sun will enter Scorpio and on the day before the moon will make her way into the sign of Leo. The blip will be in the morning on Tuesday between 8am and 10:30am. That Leo moon will stay around until a little after mid-day on Thursday. The Moon in Leo and the Sun in Scorpio are not very compatible. Both signs are stubborn and both like to be right. We might see this energy displayed and acted out during these few days. Leo likes to be seen and Scorpio likes to hide...Leo is very upfront and Scorpio skulks and remains in the periphery. There is always high drama when Leo is being reflected. But Scorpio seeks quiet.

TheCancer Awareness VBT is still chugging, check out these blog posts, comments and reviews.
October 21-One Tough Chick
October 22-Not just About Cancer
October 24-I Can't Complain Any More Than Usual

Making Strides was a great success. Many thanks to all who participated and who supported team Belly of the Whale.

Have the best day everyday.

Linda

Weekend is Excellent!!!

We all need a Good Weekend and this is the one. With all the "disaster" and "Oh, my Gawd stuff" we can sure use a string of days to enjoy. Friday the moon is in Gemini which means there will be many opportunities to speak, communicate by mail, phone, Blackberry, email and the like. People will be busy and will have little time to linger but will never stop chatting coming and going. Use this energy to say what needs to be said. Write it down, squirt words out, make headlines. This all flows into Saturday with the same energy pumping into all. Early Sunday morning for a brief almost two hours (6am-7:30am) the moon will change hats then dance and twirl into its favorite sign of Cancer. Since there is much going on in cities throughout the US in regard to Breast Cancer fund raising this moon will add a glow and help others to reflect on what a world would be without this disease. Join Team Belly of the Whale in Central park for a five mile walk and then come visit us under the Pink Survivor Tent. Use the Cancer Moon for anything homebased, family related and for real estate or property transactions. The Cancer Moon remains through Monday.

Remember Hope Begins With Us- fight-the-fight.

Next VBT stops are:
October 20-Mothers With Cancer
October 21 One Tough Chick
October 22-Not Just About Cancer

Have the best day everyday

Linda

Mercury dancing forward...

Monday is a Good Day with the moon in Aries. Fire signs are so passionate about everything. This is a wonderful springboard to get the week rolling. Tuesday is the full moon in Aries and I suspect there will be many sitings of off-the-wall events and situations. Expect a lot of mildly crazy people and wacky stuff to happen. Howl if you feel like it. Wednesday the dance of Mercury comes to a stop. Whew! This has been one heck of a Tango. Let's pause to reflect and then get back on the dance floor for the forward Rumba. It may take a few days but you will be able to feel the shift. Listen and you will hear the conversations that before were muffled. Taurus Moon on Wednesday is one of our favorites. Let's ask for what we need and if you are the invited guest, dress the part, mind your manners and have some really Good Days on Wednesday and Thursday.

We have one change on the VBT circuit. The 14&15th Chemo & Coffee will not be hosting us but it will be sometime next week. I'll keep you posted-no worries. Meantime remember to fight-the-fight and make strides against breast cancer.

Have the best day every day..

Linda

This week has gone down in history. Perhaps a look back might help those who are stressing over the current economic crisis. Life is cyclical. Seven year cycles are of particular note. J.P.Morgan turned the ship around back in October of 1907 and now here we are almost one hundred years later. Remember...the RE words, we will recover.

It is the weekend, on Friday at about 9:30pm the moon went into Pisces. She will be there for two days. Saturday and Sunday are the Good Days, enjoy them. Pisces asks us to be kind, to be compassionate and not to deceive. There seems to always be the tendency to leave out something with Pisces. A crucial piece of information perhaps. Be mindful of this. On Monday, very early in the morning, Aries trades places with the emotional Pisces Moon. Aries is fire, so watch things heat up. Patience is in short supply. Stuff gets done quickly because Aries asks us to step up the pace and dry our tears.

I met a woman the other day who was passionately spouting about doing your homework in regard to voting. Don't listen to the media she said, go on the Internet and do your homework. She had a point and I must admit that I tend to lay back from all things political but I do see how the media is doing a good job at manipulating opinions. Review the facts before you vote. Remember that Mercury has been dancing backwards and the truth has been buried in all the uproar. Look up the word hero while you are at it. Perhaps we need one.

Two reminders: First: Making Strides Against Breast Cancer in a city near you, if New York City is close by please come join us in Central Park on October 19th. Join the Belly of the Whale Team. Second: Virtual Book Tour for Breast Cancer Awareness-please stop by next week: October 13-Scribe Vibe, October 14-Literarily,October 15& 16-Coffee and Chemo,October 17-Literary Feline
Have the best day everyday. Fight-the-fight.

Linda

Good Monday and beyond...

We have ten more days of the Mercury retrograde. Not that it ends completely on the afternoon of the fifteenth, but the official end is that day. There is a shadow around the backwards phenomena and that encompasses a few weeks before and after. However, the heavy duty backward energy will cease and perhaps much of this up and down stuff will begin to level off. Monday the 6th is a Good Day. The moon is in Capricorn allowing us to conduct some serious business. Get it done under this influence. This will carry us through until Tuesday afternoon about 3:30pm. The moon disappears behind the changing curtain and does not return until noon on Wednesday. When the moon is changing we do best to organize and think. The doing should be reserved for later on Wednesday when the moon is in Aquarius. This remains until Friday about 4:30pm. Best days of the week this week are Monday and Thursday.

Hope you are following the Virtual Book Tour Train ride with Belly of the Whale. We'll be making some stops this week, do come aboard.
Tuesday-October 7 The Library at the End of the Universe
Wednesday-October 8 Cafe of Dreams
Thursday-October 9 The Merits of the Case
Friday-October 10 Cafe of Dreams

Have the best day every day. Remember to fight-the-fight, please join our team on the 19th of October in Central Park

Best, Linda

Mid-week feeling that backward dance...

We are smack in the middle of the dance floor with Mercury doing his waltz in reverse. Even if you waffle believing in this metaphysical stuff you have to admit that communicating has been off the charts since the 24th of September. We've had debates cancelled and uncancelled, candidates meeting with the president, the president speaking to the people again and again, congress going back & forth, bailouts reworked, rejected, revised and re-voted on. The "Re" words are what the dance is about. Remember we will recover.

The Good Days are in and out over the next few. Thursday until about 6:45pm, for those tuning in to the vice-presidential debate tonight please keep in mind that the moon is off radar for this event. Nothing and I mean nothing will come of it... just talk...there are no winners and no losers. The moon takes her time rolling into Sagittarius on Friday around 11:15am. This moon is optimistic, out-spoken and good natured. Use her energy to broaden your horizons. The weekend stays in this mood until after 9pm on Sunday. Enjoy the scenery, go for a drive.

Belly of the Whale is on a Virtual Book Tour during Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Stop by and read a review, an interview or listen to a podcast, please add a comment. We are touring all month. I'll post stops along the way, for a complete look at the schedule go to my website. Making Strides Against Breast Cancer is there too...remember to join our team. Fight-the-fight.

Wednesday, October 1, The Book Czar
Friday, October 3, Zensanity
Tuesday, October 7, The Library at the End of the Universe

Have the best day everyday.
Linda