Whoop

So I woke up this morning with a headache and my shadow self serenading me with negativity.

What the bullocks?

I made myself a coffee, grumbling. What is this? Where did it come from? I had a spectacular day and night yesterday, why in the world would my shadow self surface?

It was singing it's old tired tune. "You're alone. You have no family. The holidays are coming. Your friends are full of spectacular plans filled with trips and family gatherings. You will be alone."

The headache still pounding the top of my head, I made myself a coffee and sat to visit my loving blog.

I read the wonderful comments in yesterday's post. A smile started to edge on my lips. The pounding eased a bit. Then I did my first round of visits to my community of blogs. I read about enchanted lands, reiki blessings, colorful stockings, meme projects, fruitful studio time, coloring like children, encouraging advent calendars, selfless giving. My smile widened. The pounding stopped.

I am so blessed to have found this online community of wonderful people. I call it the Fountain of Life. I swim in it every day. It is healing, inspiring and affirming.

I don't have a family per se. So what? I will be spending time with my soul family and my goddaughter. I have my wonderful soul companion, Stinky, who shows me love and curls up with me as I read or watch TV or rest, purring his little song.

I don't have money to travel. So what? I have a roof over my head, a warm bed and books with many realms, a big screen TV with a world of movies.

My shadow self skulked away, defeated and silent. Why don't you go away already? Permanently. Who needs you?

Now onto my wonderful day yesterday! It was a Professional Development Day, and so no classes. I arranged the morning for members of my department who chose to participate, to go book browsing and shopping and then to meet for lunch and discuss our findings.

A few of us met in the morning and went for nice warm coffee and almond croissants and chatted. Then we split up and went to various book stores of our choice. Emily and I went to Book City and I bought NINE books. It's inevitable. Me + bookstore = Spree. I will have a lot of blessed down time in two weeks so I can wrap up myself in my warm covers and explore delicious worlds. I gave Emily a book she has been dying to read. YAY!

Then we went to Future Bakery to meet up with everyone and chill out. We ate and shared books, and stories and felt our spines relax. The most civilized P.D. I have had in a long time. :)

Then in the afternoon, we went to Central Tech where I was leading a workshop on using blogs for classroom purposes. Renata assisted me and co-lead the workshop. It was fun! We got everyone set up with a blog and connected to ours so we can help them along the way. The feedback we got was all positive (they filled out anonymous forms). One person said it was the best P.D. she/he had been to. YAY!

Then I went with Renata and her wonderful family to a pub nearby with other teachers from Central Tech. I loved the place - Harbord House. It was warm and cozy inside with bay windows, lots of lights and ornaments, and a big decorated tree upstairs. Oh and the food! YUM! I had potato crusted salmon with basmati herbed rice and asparagus. Drool! :)

Oh! And there were the beautiful toddlers filling the room with life and energy! My heart was brimming.

The people were all warm, friendly, fun and interesting, so I stayed a while longer after my friends (Renata, Jeff, Sabi and Zoë) went home.

Then I rushed home to feed my Stinker and get ready to go out with Danette and Colin to see a friend of ours perform. We went to the coldest bar in down. I mean BRRR! But. Ellie was angelic. When she was singing with her beautiful, light-filled voice, I closed my eyes and traveled to a splendid world of color and movement. She is truly magical.

A gift of a day, was it not? It cannot get any more perfect. :) This is why I chose to make the Three of Cups for today. It encapulates the spirit of fun and rejoicing.

I hope your days are full and perfect with much rejoicing. I look forward to reading your stories. They nurture me and fill me with hope. Thank you so much for being in my life, even if it is through the world wide web! :)

Blessed be!