Suffering...

My mind rambles to that saying about "suffer the little children" from the Sermon on the Mount..and "in the world ye shall have tribulation"...it is just the way that it is.
The more that I accept this fact, the easier it is for me to find peace. Suffering is the absence of Peace.
Peace, even though things didn't turn out the way that I wanted. Peace in the face of prejudice and hatred.
Peace, that this too shall pass.
Peace, that no matter what occurs in the future we all will have the strength to endure and we may suffer but knowing that there is a kind Hand that will be there when we reach out will bring comfort.

I have a hard time dreaming of the future. I am in the process of Not looking at the Past and just being here now. Do you know how hard that is?
In the matter of minutes I am drawn into the waters of the Past or swiftly moved by the current of my mind to what I expect the Future to hold. But really no one knows.

The gift truly is in the present! This moment is all I have and I can choose to Suffer or I can choose to be at Peace. Which will I cling to?
I am reminded of that old hymn...

When Peace like a river attendeth my way..when sorrows like sea billows roll ...what ever my lot Thou hast taught me to say It is well..it is well with my soul!

Monday Morning thoughts..

It has been a couple weeks since I have jotted down some notes. The most heartfelt thing that has happened in Roswell as of late is there have been now 3 deaths from the H1N1 virus. A 17 year old, 37 & now today in the news a 15 year old. I was watching 60 Minutes last night and they were talking about it being in the same vein as the 1918 flu. All I know is that it is fatal quickly on relatively healthy individuals. So, we all carry around Germ-X,(I wish I had stock in that) and hope for the best. I got a flu shot this year which is a first for me. I babysit twins and they got their shots so thought I had better too! I am hesitant though of the H1N1 shot. There is so much controversy about it. When I hear that nurses and other health care workers are not wanting to take it, THAT makes me leery. It is a mute point right now as there is no vaccine available in Roswell. The first doses we received were given to the hospital workers.


On a much lighter note, the weather has been beautiful. I winterized my air conditioner and thought about putting up the fans but it will be in the 80's this week so I might still need them. It was peaceful this weekend. Leaves falling gently to the ground and I am filled with gratitude. Gratitude for the dawn of another day in Roswell.

Alien museum news!

Weather: Roswell, NM | Now: 72° 10/1/09

Here is an article from the Roswell Daily Record that I thought everyone might enjoy! This is the newest plan for Roswell. If you are familiar with Roswell, the new museum will be located across from our Alien Themed McDonalds! It definately is an unworldly time and place to be right now as the world is shaking all around us! We hang on and look forward! Enjoy the article








Andrew Cone

Far out! New International UFO Museum ‘celestial navigation chart’

Thursday, October 01, 2009
Award winning architect E. Kevin Schopfer discussed his design for the new International UFO Museum to a crowd of about 150 at the Community Foundation’s Illustrious Achievement Dinner, held at the Sally Port Inn Tuesday night.

Schopfer was selected to help design the new building by the museum’s board in 2006, and discussed many of the details during the dinner. He said he first got the idea to help with the design after seeing a television program about plans to construct a new UFO museum in Roswell.

“I thought it looked very, very interesting and I called Julie [Shuster] to ask if they needed an architect,” he said. “I started sending in some sketches and eventually we got to the point where we were both comfortable that this one would be good.”

Schopfer said that in creating the design for the new museum, he and Schuster were trying to avoid the spaceship look. “We’re calling what we came up with a celestial navigation chart — it’s an alien object as opposed to an alien ship.”

Schopfer said the museum will be constructed in phases, with a final price tag in the area of $25 million.

Julie Shuster, the museum’s director, said the new building will be about 30,000 square feet and the groundbreaking will be no later than October 2010. She said the museum will be constructed on an entire city block between East Seventh and East Eighth streets and North Main Street and North Virginia Avenue.

She said some existing buildings in that block are expected to be razed and some additional museum buildings would eventually be constructed on two other lots on the east side of Virginia Avenue.

Shuster said there is always the possibility of some small changes in the design. “There’s always things that have to be fine tuned, but that design is very close, if not totally accurate.”

She said the museum is aiming for a grand opening in July 2011.

Schopfer has worked on cutting-edge architectural projects all over the world including the Mercator, a floating city of 100,000 people designed to circumnavigate the globe every three to four years. He was also instrumental in the design of the Avenger Bugatti Yacht, a 160-foot tri-hull super yacht with an elevator, a movie theater, an on-board spa and a 7,000-mile cruising range.

“He’s very visionary and he thinks globally,” Shuster said. “I don’t think he ever sleeps because he’s always coming up with new ideas.”

A Journey

Yesterday, I went on my daily walk with my twin boys I am babysitting. As we were meandering down the street, the boys in their stroller, me pointing out interesting things in people's yards to them. There before us was a man down. He looked to be in his 50's with nice shorts,t-shirt & baseball cap. I thought maybe he had a heart attack while working in the yard. I reached for my phone and the CPR training kicked in. Shake & Shout! Yet, I didn't want to be too far from the babies. I kicked the man's shoes, shouting "Sir, Are you alright?, Sir, Are you alright?" while looking to see if he was breathing. Suddenly, he rose up somewhat disoriented and thanking me. I could tell he had been passed out either from drugs or alcohol. He mumbled something and said "thank you ma'am!" I went on my way fearing now for our own safety. I did not know what he was on or what he could possibly do though fortunately he didn't express any threat but you can never be sure! The surprising adrenaline that kicked in helped me to get as far away from him as possible! It was the middle of the afternoon, and a fairly nice neighborhood. You just never know.

Now, I know just how easy someone could prey on the kindness of strangers. Could I have walked by without giving immediate assistance. No..He did not look like a vagrant. Even if he had, I would have gotten help for him. He went on down the street, looking a bit disoriented but gone none the less. We continued on our walk while, I thought about how I might need to carry some Pepper spray and saying a prayer of thanks!

Times have changed ..Instead of Lions, Tigers and Bears..it seems to be our own species we have to worry about. I guess there will always be dangers and maybe I did save him, at the very least, from a horrible sunburn!

The Times They Are A'Changin

Good-Bye..Patrick Swayze..Good-bye Mary...The times they are a changin!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HXxVoHVp24I



A Video of Peter, Paul & Mary which definately describes the times we are living!

Aliens-R-Us

Ha,Mercury is now Retrograde as of Sunday! In true form, I was trying to upload an image for this blog of the new Alien Mural that has suddenly appeared here in Roswell. There is an error in the upload. Very typical for a mercury retrograde. For those of you who aren't familiar with astrology which is a hobby of mine... Mercury retrograde means the planet of communication is traveling backwards in the sky. So, misunderstandings, delays in communication etc. are on the horizon. It is time to settle in and deal with communication or projects from the past. Be understanding with yourself if you get tongue tied or misunderstood. Slow down and be reflective.
One thing that is fun to reflect on is the date today. 9/09/09 Lucky Nine day. It's as if time is winking at us. I hope time slows down for you today. Now once again I will try to upload the image. If it doesn't come up ..I will sigh and save my Aliens-R-Us blog to another day.


Ok..So today 9/10/09 I can now add my photo. Quite an unusual Mural of Aliens. This is located here in Roswell behind the Peter Piper Pizza.
Quite a spot...Saturdays you can have Pizza, get your car washed(there is always a car wash at Peter Pipers on Saturday's) and peruse the latest in Alien Memorabilia. The name of the store is UFOria...don't ask me? No, really don't ask me what that name means.

Another thing that happened this last weekend in Alienland is a TV crew was here taking interviews for a Reality Based TV show based on those businesses that cater to the alien hysteria. They were taking applications at the Civic Center all day on Saturday. I think that might be a 'hoot' to watch. We do get a lot of interesting people coming through this town. What amazes me most is that it continues to generate interest and I don't foresee it ending anytime soon.
Roswell is on the map..like it or not. I will stop by a few more places and snap photos of the murals. There are getting to be quite a few!

Reflections of the Past....

This past weekend I went to a Pat Benatar concert up at the Inn of the Mountain Gods in Mescalaro,NM. It took me back in time once again. I did not realize their band formed in '79..right when I was graduating from High School. So, they are on their 30th tour reunion.
I remember the first Benatar song that I ever heard. It immediately made me a fan. For those who don't know me, I worked for sixteen years at a Home for Abused and Neglected kids. We take the kids on a summer vacation and it was on this trip..close to midnight..we were driving to Six Flags Over Texas. We were in the large Red Van we nick named the Big Ant. The kids were mostly asleep and my co-worker Cynthia popped in a tape..said it was Pat Benatar and the song "Hell is for Children" came rocking through.
If you are not familiar with that song, you might want to find it on Youtube!
I was an absolute fan there and then. Benatar sang with the angst that I felt from the kids I was listening to.
So, this concert took me back to those days and those many stories I heard and how I was honored to be a witness to the healing process of so many brave kids who had been so beaten down by the very ones who should have been loving them.
Those kids taught me by their courage to stand up and not let the abuse happen any more!
Some were too broken which is heart breaking to see.
But so many though moved on,picking up the pieces. Families of their own..hopefully stopping the cycle.

Right now,I work as a Hypnotherapist in Roswell. Now, I see adults that never had the opportunities that the kids who had gotten out of the abuse. Some who I have seen are in their 60's & 70's now. They are in the process of dealing with the pain that occurred 50 or 60 years ago!
A child's life is so precious!
What happens to them at a young age will stay with them a life time.
Be kind to the children. Protect them when you can.
Never forget and never look away.
Those who have been blessed with a pretty decent childhood count your lucky stars that you never knew that Hell is for Children...