Hello world!!

I am doing well in Oklahoma for the 2nd month I've been here. I am enjoying the solitude and serenity that the country offers. I work a part time job, take care of my grandmother's lawn, household needs etc and most of my free time I spend either visiting friends, relatives or just playing music to soothe my inner need.

I went and picked up my son on the 1st of June, for summer break. We enjoyed our first weekend thus far. We went to "Red Earth" celebration on Saturday morning. We got to walk around and see art exhibits of Native American artists, crafts from different tribes. We also got to watch the Grand Entry (for those unsure of what this is, you can see a re-broadcast on www.powwows.com) The grand entry is when all the tribes that will be in attendance come into the main arena. They dance around while the different drum groups drum and sing the host of dancers around, until all dancers and participants are in the main area. You want to see something like this for your first time, I assure you! Talk about an emotional invoking experience!! Being able to see all the colors, hear all the sounds, bells jingling, rattles shaking, voices singing to the rhythms..... Man! I only wish we would have stayed all day. We missed the dance competitions :( Sadly enough. BUT, my son and I got to go visit with our extended family at a birthday party. After that, we all went as a family to celebrate my birthday at a very authentic German restaurant in Choctaw Oklahoma. (my compliments to the chef!)
(semi post script note: May was a blue moon month, so, my birthday fell on a full moon. How cool is that?)

After that, we all came home, chilled out, got baths and what not (mostly the boy), got ready for bed, (again the boy). After lights out, I traversed to Shawnee to visit and hang out with my cousin and his room mate. We met at this nice pub called, "Knuckles Pub". Very authentic Irish pub feel. We sat up in the pool table area talking and drinking on a few beverages (nice selection of dark and high alcohol beers) and then went to their place and continued talking until almost 1:30AM. I then came home to my bed and slept until this morning around, 9:30. Nice! I like the simple things, like sleeping in occasionally. :)

Well, I'm not much for ranting or raving lately, but, if I had to rave about anything at all....It would be the incessant rain we seem to be getting lately. Not just us in Oklahoma either. But, all across the mid-west. Now, if I were to say that the east coast could use some of this rain, that would be very correct. I know that Florida, Georgia, Alabama and several other states could very well use some of the excess water we seem to be harboring. I have jokingly stated that I feel as though I am living in a rain forest, due to the almost daily rains we have been receiving. I also know that in the summer months to come, we will be glad of the moisture we have gotten to this point. It should prove to be quite a hot summer for most of this area.

Well, Mid-Summer is approaching fast. June 21st will be the summer equinox, the date that the sun is in it's strongest position. The day of longest light. after that day, the light will start to fade into the oncoming fall season. Days will begin to get shorter a little at a time. I hope that we all have adequately prepared ourselves for this time in the calendar year. It is a time to watch closely. Anything in nature that you can look at, watch closely. Pay attention to your environment. Our eco system can fortell the coming weather quite accurately. I for one am lucky to be able to watch closely in my suroundings. I know that city dwellers have a hard time getting to see the signs as approaching weather changes so fast and often without warning, but, the warnings should be heeded. We are very near to completing another seasonal cycle of change. After this, it will seem harder on us as humans to deal with such scorching heat in the mid-west. After all, this area has been in drought for several years. Now the rains have brought some desired relief. Next on the agenda is dry conditions again. I hope we can persevere.

Well, I guess those are my thoughts for the moment.

Be at peace in all your works and bring peace to those around you.