That is because Mercury is retrograde

I was aware that Mercury was going to be retrograde this month because I faithfully read my astrologyzone.com horoscope. I'm not going to lie, I have been cautious about leaving the house. I mean it isn't like I let the planets rule my life but this M retrograde sounded particularly bad.

I love being aware of the forces going on around me and having an explanation for all the things that are getting fucked up. My computer stopped working for no apparent reason, I witnessed a motorcycle crashing into a minivan, and Newshead and I have had a number of miscommunications (bickerings) this month just to name a few examples. Normally these things would drive me over the edge. However, knowing it is M retro really makes it all better. I can let it go. There is no "why oh why is this happening?" frustration that can spin you into madness. It is just Mercury doing its thing. No big. It is a planetary scapegoat and it is the greatest.

My favorite part about Mercury being retrograde is saying it every time something happens. I think everyone around me loves it too. I'm mostly doing it to be obnoxious. The saying it out loud part. That there are so many opportunities to say it is a fact that is not lost on me. I am a true believer. There is a lot of pushing and pulling out there in the universe. There is no way we can be completely unaffected by it.

There are a lot of unexplained feelings that occur and emotions that seem disproportionate to the current situation and maybe even some crying and some yelling. Some fatigue, doubt, anxiety, overeating, hurt feelings, maybe even a splash of delusion or paranoia. Simply knowing that something out there may be contributing to it gives you a little anchor of sanity to hang onto. If you don't make too much out of it and you just hang tight, it will all right itself. Explaining the seemingly unexplainable. That is why I love Mercury retrograde.

It is like cosmic PMS.

Krista's summer vacation pt. 1

I was given an unpaid and unexpected vacation!

From the internet.

I was gone for almost a week and let me tell you, it was something.

I can't wait to tell you all about it.

It sucked. What a crappy vacation.

I don't think I would choose to go back. I do have a fabulous iphone but let's face it, it isn't a computer so I had to keep everything to the necessities. Which essentially means I read my emails and then forgot to answer most of them because I wasn't really able to type back an appropriately verbose response. I hit Rose's internet cafe once (thankfully it was open late) but it isn't the same as using your own computer (it isn't my own bed, my own pajamas etc.) and it is really distracting when you are surrounded by cute clothes, wedding plans, and fun chit chat. Web surfing is really a solitary sport.

In the end, it turned out alright. I got a lot out of it and I tried to pretend it was really freeing or whatever people say to sound cup half full and stuff.

Well enough of the whining. Mercury and its lingering retrograde effects should finally be gone for awhile. I read that on astrologyzone.com before my brownout for anyone whose keeping track.

Here are some things I accomplished/discovered while on vacation:

If there is anyone who doesn't clip shit out of magazines everytime you read them you should really start. Why? Because it is fun. You can keep a file of inspiring or striking things and go through them when your internet is down.

I have a picture of Kate Moss from the August 2008 Vogue issue. I liked her hair. So I attempted to recreate it on my own head. It really turned out to be more "reminicent of" than a "recreation of" but whatever, that still counts and it made for a "very special" Tuesday night at work.

You will notice that Kate is in a limo while I am not. I believe the difference ends there.

I also discovered the Camera Bag application on my iphone. Truly the greatest. I'm in love with their many hip and beautiful filters. My self portrait above has the "Helga" filter on it. I look way cooler with it.

More on my vacation adventures to follow. There really is too much to put in one blog entry.

As you can see it was an exciting whirlwind of a time.

Although I am glad to be back.

Twinkle Twinkle

So I have a couple of new things that I am obsessed with.
The Astrology Zone website and a Tarot card website.

Thank you Marianne and the girls at Newshead's work, respectively, for sending me these wonderful tips.

Don't turn up your nose just yet, this shit is FUN and if you don't think so, perhaps you just need to do a couple of affirmations that sound something like "I need to lighten up."

If you still feel the uncontrollable urge to be a naysayer, it might be helpful for you to picture me turning up the volume on Barbara Streisand's "Don't Rain on my Parade" and singing at the top of my lungs while wearing an outfit that some would say doesn't "match" cuz that's the kind of mood I'm in today.

Continuing on.

Like all things in life you get out what you put in. Pondering life is never a waste of time. This stuff is a veritable springboard for a delightful stream of consciousness.

The monthly forecast on Astrology Zone is the most comprehensive I have ever seen, truly fantastic, and it doesn't hurt that my pisces horoscope is amazing this month.

And the Tarot is just like someone you trust confirming things you already know about yourself but it somehow sounds more resonant and profound coming from someone else. I have a friend, Anita, who has an amazing gift for telling you what you need to hear in the most diplomatic way. She can make "tough love" sound like a compliment and she is so intelligent and well read that you leave the conversation inspired. It is her voice I imagine when I'm reading my tarot card results. I'm sure she'll be thrilled.

Not only is it fun but it is also educational if you care to take it in that direction (and I do). Today the term "poverty consciousness" came up in my online, computer generated, totally real Tarot reading.

I think I have it and I'm pretty sure I want to get rid of it.

As I am trying to learn more about finances (and when I say "trying" I do, at this point, mean "planning") I am finding out that it isn't all about the numbers. There is a lot that has to do with my relationship with money and my thoughts surrounding it. I may, in fact, be creating my financial circumstances because I just assume I will always be just a little too poor to purchase my beloved piazza sofa.

It is funny. I never assume I will be desolate but I never think I will actually have lasting prosperity either. I've always believed I will labor for my money and thus far I have. There isn't anything wrong with working really hard at a job I don't like to support myself but why don't I feel I deserve to have a job I love that will easily support my shoes and makeup habit? Maybe I'm worried I will lose all perspective if I were to suddenly have abundance in my life. I have been refered to as "new stuff" (a name I'm actually quite fond of) because I like shiny new things. Maybe I'm afraid I will become a vapid, materialistic, narcissist with even the slightest bit of prosperity.

OMG, I am holding myself back from myself.

I really have to knock that off!

I freaking love these sites.