|
|
|
|
In our language, the meaning of 'hag' has been distorted. Among the Kells (my mother was Irish), it is the final stage in the life of a woman. There are three: The Maiden/Virgin, untaken, untamed, wild and free. She's full of fire, dreams, visions and kinetic energy. She is the Waxing Moon. The Matron, in the full maturity of her child-bearing years. She is the great earth mother, the lover, the comforter, the healer. She is the Full Moon. The Hag. Seasoned and wise in the ways of the world, she holds her blood and sometimes her tongue. She enjoys honor and respect among those who hold her favor, and fear/caution among those who have earned her ire. She is the Waning Moon. I take The Hag for Hag Struan, a character in James Clavell's novel Tai-Pan, my favorite of his works. The Hag was born a Brock, which made her marriage into the Struan clan a Hatfield-McCoy heresy. The Brocks and Struans were rival shipping magnates in Scotland during the early days of China trade. The Hag was widowed young and stepped to the helm of Struan shipping, to keep them on top of her birth family. She was a tough, clear-minded, straight from the shoulder kind of lady. I admired her strength, her dignity and her dedication to her family against all odds. I'd have a very long way to go, indeed, before I could be in her league, but the name inspires me and I aim to do her proud. *************** For God sent NOT his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. [JOHN 3:17] Peace to All. The Hag ......................................  .......................................... |
|
|
For Its OWN Sake
|
Jan 27, 2007 4:35 am
549 Views
|
MOOD: Elated
haven't touched a hook,
haven't cracked a book,
failed to feed the fish,
or to wash ary a dish,
didn' clean my clothes,
didn' mop the floahs,
...............(end of my dubious tribute to Theodor Geisel, and begging his posthumous forgiveness!). In other words, I've been blissfully idle for the past week and a half. I finished the nine-day stretch, had two days off, then a week of five-and-a-half hour days - now! am off work til Tuesday afternoon. Siiiigh! It do feel good!
For me, not to go to college was, in a sense, not to become a full human being. - Margaret Mead
Margaret Mead (1901-1978 ) had always been one of my great icons, but when I read those words in her autobiography, Blackberry Winter, she attained the canon of my personal saints. The most thrilling bit of information I've ever received came to me when my first grade teacher, Mrs. Jernigan, told me, "You can go to school all of your life, Elsie, if that's what you want to do." I couldn't believe this amazing truth, so the first thing I did upon arrival home was sit down and write my grandfather, asking whether this was so. When he confirmed it, my joy knew no bounds. Education was and is my ticket out.
Recently, I exchanged email with a friend regarding the prevailing attitude toward education - especially secondary and advanced education - in many parts of this country today. I hail from an area where people grudgingly allow their children to finish high school, then aggressively discourage them from further studies or from pursuing any additional academic interests. Education is seen as a threat to the traditional lifestyle - a desire to be 'better than yore raisin' ', and an attempt at 'being uppity', especially if you 'leave home' for some school 'way off where you'll learn a bunch of 'furrin' (foreign) ways.' To the intellectual child, to the exceptionally intelligent child, to the gifted child, this iron-clad cultural repression presents a great barrier, a source of terrible frustration and a sense of hopelessness that turns their greatest delight into their heaviest burden. Children blessed with determination may find mentors in teachers, counselors, pastors or older friends who understand the value and need for a good education, to give them direly needed guidance and support in their quest for a better life. These are the rare exceptions, however. Most young people succumb to the pressure, the debilitating criticism, the relentless efforts to get them to dumb down (git them tom-fool notions out o' yore head!) and accept their lot in life.
The great tragedy I was bemoaning to my friend was the fact that, in this country as a whole, we only pay lip service to education as a value. We don't value it enough to seek out quality educators to work in our schools, nor to pay them a decent, living wage with adequate benefits. We don't value it enough to provide our students with the supplies they need to learn properly. We're taxed to death and many state lotteries are supposed to benefit education - yet, our school systems are always in the red. What's wrong with this picture?
It seems to me that, as a nation, we are trying to make education once again the province of the rich - especially when it comes to secondary education. Can you then imagine my unbridled glee when this piece of information came to me (verified on SNOPES and TruthOrFiction):
HARVARD UNIVERSITY TUITION
Harvard University has announced that from now on undergraduate students from low-income families will pay no tuition.
In making the announcement, Harvard's president Lawrence H. Summers said, "When only 10 percent of the students in elite higher education come from families in lower half of the income distribution, we are not doing enough. We are not doing enough in bringing elite higher education to the lower half of the income distribution."
If you know of a family earning less than $60,000 a year with an honor student graduating from high school soon, Harvard University wants to pay the tuition. The prestigious university recently announced that from now on undergraduate students from low-income families can go to Harvard for free ... no tuition and no student loans!
In addition, Harvard announces reduced fees for students from families with incomes between $60,000 and $80,000. To find out more about Harvard offering free tuition for families making less than $60,000 a year google Harvard's financial aid info.
I'm overwhelmed, I'm elated, I'm overjoyed! It took me eight bluidy, tormented years to earn a four-year Bachelor's degree in English Literature, being a married student, working full-time, running around the country like a gypsy and changing schools as frequently as we changed our socks. I've never used it for a d**n thing but my own personal enjoyment. My desire for a complete education cost me my family long before any of them left this earth. I never ceased to have to deal with their derision, their snide remarks about "fat lot of good all that fine schoolin' has done you", since they all made more money than I did, always. That's no tragedy to me as I'm not and have never been money motivated, although I've paid my own way, stayed out of debt and made sure my needs were met with a bit to spare. I could never get them to appreciate that learning, of and by itself, will always be my drug of choice. It never wears thin, it never tires, it never grows old. It's as fresh and new as the latest discovery sent back to earth from our most recent space probe, as joyful and refreshing as Sir Paul McCartney's most recent symphony, as lovely and intriguing as the tiniest particles revealed by the newly-developed high-powered microscopes. It is what I live for - always has been, always will be. Nothing thrills me as does new knowledge in any field. This is the fountain of youth!
"Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding." - Proverbs 4 : 7
"How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver!"- Proverbs 16:16
"And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, ...." - Romans 12 : 2
"I thank God for a mind that makes me think." - John Wallace Golden, Esquire (my grandfather)
Sorry for the length of this one my friends. Obviously, I'm wound up! Have a wonderful weekend and I'll see you on your blog ASAP!
Hugs and smiles!
The Hag
|
|
|
10
Comments
|
|
|
POST DELETED - Partial Hoax ...
|
Jan 14, 2007 3:52 pm
Mood: embarrassed,
591 Views
|
MAYBE SOME DAY I WILL LEARN to check everything first before going off the deep end. But those pictures just looked so real!
THE TRUTH: Thanks to our readers, the truth about these pictures has been found. The facts are a little different from the original eRumor, but the pictures do record the results of a true hunt and are real.
. They were posted by a hunter who used the nickname Dalliwacker but who is, according to published articles, Jim Urban. He says that the bear was actually ten feet high and weighed between 1,000 and 1,200 pounds. He says the bear did not stand up then drop down and charge. It showed no aggression at all. He also says the bear was not shot on Hitchenbrook Island but, like all good hunters, he won't be specific about where he got it  .
The versions of the eRumor that claims the bear was a killer and was shot by a forest service employee or was a killer and human remains were found in his stomach, are false.
***************
Regardless of that, he was big enough and the problem res food shortages, bears and other natural predators being forced out of their natural feeding grounds for lack of food and destroyed habitats remains just as scary and as dangerous whether or not this particular giant was the size of the hoaxers' claims.
It looks to me like we're faced with enough disasters and desperate situations without people having to paint the picture worse than it is.
With thanks for your many comments and sincere apologies for not making sure of my material, again, I promise to blog on a brighter topic next time.
The Hag
|
|
|
7
Comments
|
|
|
"Is This The Party to Whom I
|
Jan 13, 2007 10:12 am
650 Views
|
MOOD: Reflective
IT WAS A bright, crisp Sunday morning in early spring. I'd gotten off work at 7:30am, had stopped for breakfast at the hospital cafeteria, and attended our worship service in the chapel before coming home. My energy level was still reasonably high. Many folks who've never done long-term third shift, or who aren't in the least 'night people', don't understand that getting off work in the early morning differs little from getting off work in mid afternoon. Usually, one doesn't rush home to fall into bed. Most of us enjoy a little 'gearing-down' time to let our minds and bodies prepare for sleep. Showered and settled into a thick flannel caftan that I'd made by hand, with a mug of fresh coffee at my elbow, I dialed the number of my favorite aunt, hoping for a long session of 'girl talk' before calling it a day.
"Hello, Uncle Mack?"
"Well, hello, girl! Where've you been keeping yourself?
"Here at home and at work, mostly. Get out for dinner and a movie now and again. Is Aunt Wanda at home?"
"No, she and the girls went to her Mama's after church today."
"Oh, OK. Well, how're you guys doing?"
"Oh, fine, fine. I've had a little cold but nothing to complain about. Just this changing weather. It always does me that way."
"I remember. How's the garden doing?"
"Comin' along just fine. We had a good rain about the middle of the week and it's really bringing everything up real pretty."
...we continued in this vein for over an hour - catching up on family, friends and acquaintances, talking about local politics, he'd had some trouble with his old truck and had been about to go outside and start work on it "as soon as I'd finished this cup of coffee"...then:
"When was the last time you saw Aunt Gladys?"
"Who?"
"Aunt Gladys? Your sister?"
Pause...then, very quietly -
"Honey, I'm sorry, but I believe you've got the wrong number."
We laughed and marveled over the amazing coincidence of the sound-alike voices (both his and mine), the names of his family members, the fact that we'd been able to carry on this fantastic conversation so long without either of us catching on. Finally, he said, "Well, report this to the phone company (Ma Bell was still in power!) and maybe you won't have to pay for the call."
"Oh, no! Don't worry about that, it was worth it just to talk with you! Have a great day - and even though I'm not the Elsie we thought I was, tell Wanda and the girls what a good talk we've had."
I'll do that, yep, I sure will do that! Well, you have a good sleep now and I'm just real glad you called."
"I will, thank you! I am too. And you take care!"
When the bill came, the number I'd reached was completely different than my aunt and uncle's. The area code and the three prefix numbers were the same, nothing else. The next weekend, I called my aunt and told her what had happened. They lived in a small town and I asked whether they knew a family in the area with names so similar to their own. She didn't. My call on the previous Sunday must have rung through to a completely different number due to a mechanical glitch. After all these years, that conversation stands in my memory as one of those unique experiences that can be neither explained nor forgotten.
Have a great week-end, my friends!
The Hag
|
|
|
14
Comments
|
|
|
Does Anyone Know...
|
Jan 10, 2007 6:07 am
Mood: relieved,
565 Views
|
THANK YOU! Peg, Ruth, Ann, Pam and Karen! At least I was able to get out a 'heads up' call and get some prayers started. Meri has posted an update on her blog. She's back and forth to the hospital to be with Vic. She's not too specific about his condition but it sounds uncertain and maybe even touch-and-go. Let's keep them in our prayers -
With prayers of thanks and much love to each of you, my sisters here in Blogland!
Big, BIG warm hugs!
Elsie
***************
MOOD: Very Concerned
Has anyone heard from Meri since Vic went into the hospital? On Jan 8, she posted a comment on VolleyBallGranny's blog about the new prayer group:
[Quote: But I could use a bit of support now since Vic went into hospital New Year's Eve and is still there. Heck of a way to celebrate a new year with ambulance red lights and siren in the rain here. Hope everyone else had a much better night and will have a great 2007.]
Does anyone have an update on his condition or any info res how they're doing?
Many thanks!
The Hag
|
|
|
9
Comments
|
|
|
Gearing Down
|
Jan 8, 2007 6:36 am
Mood: content,
579 Views
|
"The glorious carols have ended,
The wise men have gone back from afar,
But some hearts still listen for Angels,
And some still follow The Star."
-- Unknown
That was a fast week, wasn't it? On Tuesday, Jan 2nd, all the housemates were off work and at home. Our Holiday company was leaving on Wednesday afternoon, so we had a small group of friends in for the usual pot-luck dinner, very casual. After that we hooked up somebody's new Scene It game and struggled with that until we were laughing in screaming hysterics. I don't know if we ever figured out who'd won or lost or what. Let's just say we discovered that none of us knows as much as we'd hoped when the game began. I'm beginning to seriously re-think the value in taking up cribbage again after all these years.
Thankfully, Lola is settling down now. The Holidays were extremely stressful for her. There were too many people in and out of her house, sitting on her furniture, leaving behind unfamiliar scents. A couple of times she wasn't able to get into the bathroom to the litter box when she needed to and then some thoughtful soul moved her litter box out to the laundry room without telling any of us and confusion reigned! She'd already ruined a big, black velvet cushion that Paul had given Anna some time ago (It has been thrown out.) and had begun to use the area rug just inside the mud room door, when the problem was discovered and corrected. She holed up in my room over the next couple of days (I keep water for her in there), only coming out to eat at night when everyone was out of the living areas or the kitchen. I'm hoping this week will see her contentedly back on schedule.
Buddy, of course, is our official greeter! He lapped up all the extra attention and every 'treat' or hand-out proffered to him with the greatest of delight. He's a little lonely now that things are so quiet in comparison. He keeps running to the front door to see if anyone new's coming in with a handshake, hug or yummy bite for him and sometimes whines a little bit when no one's there. We'll give him plenty of affection to help him wean away from the excitement. I'll even do an additional short walk with him over the next few days, so he can work off some of the energy.
Yesterday began a nine-day stretch at work for me, at the end of which will be a five-day break (one hopes). This is the final spurt to catch up on all the holiday mishap reports, etc. Also this week, I've got a book to finish. My winter projects include research on the proper care and feeding of roses; delving into genealogy in search of my specific Native American ancestry, and finding my niche in some volunteer program via church or postings at the public library.
Oh, yeah! I'm not forgetting that I'm gonna blog again in three days! Crossing my fingers in hopes that I make it.
Hugs, smiles and best wishes for the Happiest New Year ever, my friends! Thanks for checking in!
The Hag
|
|
|
8
Comments
|
|
|
Oooh! Oooh! I got one!
|
Jan 1, 2007 11:41 am
Mood: groggy,
607 Views
|
...Or maybe, two? New Year's Resolutions, that is.
KNOW ALL BLOGGERS BY THESE PRESENTS, GREETINGS!
.....I, Elsie, The Hag, being a completely free spirit, and more than a mite off-center, frequently all the way into the ditch (!), do hereby faithfully resolve that, in this, the year of our Laird, two-thousand and six, A.C.E., I shall blog twice per week and further, that I shall confine all 'comments' longer than six lines of text to my own space, especially when I lapse into pontification, as I so often wont to do.
.....Thanking you for your gracious indulgence in the year agone, I remain, most
Faithfully and happily your blogging friend,
Elsie
***************
stuff I love -
Opportunity
They do me wrong who say I come no more
When once I knock and fail to find you in;
For every day I stand outside your door,
And bid you wake, and rise to fight and win.
Wail not for precious chances passed away,
Weep not for golden ages on the wane!
Each night I burn the records of the day-
At sunrise every soul is born again!
Laugh like a boy at splendors that have sped
To vanished joys be blind and deaf and dumb;
My judgements seal the dead past with its dead,
But never bind a moment yet to come.
Though deep in mire, wring not your hands and weep
I lend my arm to all who say "I Can!"
No shame-faced outcast ever sank so deep,
But yet might rise and be again a man.
Dost thou behold thy lost youth all aghast?
Dost reel from righteous Retribution's blow?
Then turn from blotted archives of the past,
And find the future's pages white as snow.
Art thou a mourner? Rouse thee from thy spell
Art thou a sinner? Sins may be forgiven;
Each morning gives thee wings to flee from he!!,
Each night a star to guide thy feet to heaven.
Walter Malone
...and my favorite!
OPPORTUNITY
by: Edward Rowland Sill (1841-1887)
THIS I beheld, or dreamed it in a dream: --
There spread a cloud of dust along a plain;
And underneath the cloud, or in it, raged
A furious battle, and men yelled, and swords
Shocked upon swords and shields. A prince's banner
Wavered, then staggered backward, hemmed by foes.
A craven hung along the battle's edge,
And thought, "Had I a sword of keener steel--
That blue blade that the king's son bears, -- but this
Blunt thing--!" he snapped and flung it from his hand,
And lowering crept away and left the field.
Then came the king's son, wounded, sore bestead,
And weaponless, and saw the broken sword,
Hilt-buried in the dry and trodden sand,
And ran and snatched it, and with battle shout
Lifted afresh he hewed his enemy down,
And saved a great cause that heroic day.
"Opportunity" is reprinted from The Little Book of
American Poets: 1787-1900. Ed. Jessie B. Rittenhouse.
Cambridge: Riverside Press, 1915.
***************
Sorry I didn't make it back into Chat after coming home this morning. I was a bit later than I thought I'd be, as I helped with clean up. My system worked better with keeping up and posting than it has when I tried to chat before - so will try again soon!
I'll be back later to catch up on your blogs.
Thanks for stopping in!
Hugs!
Elsie
|
|
|
13
Comments
|
|
|
|
|
Writing On The Run...
|
Dec 27, 2006 6:07 pm
Mood: bouncy,
542 Views
|
We're still working our varied shifts, enjoying drop in guests, catching up with friends and family, playing phone tag here and there and making time to just take a deep breath and smile!
To those of you whom I can't email, I'm
...Dropping in between the holidays with just a note to say,
..."I hope you're well and happy and had a lovely Christmas Day.
...May the New Year bring you peace and light and love and cheer,
...And may our Holy Savior keep you always in His care!"
More soonest!
The Hag
|
|
|
10
Comments
|
|
|
THE GROCERY LIST
|
Dec 25, 2006 4:10 am
Mood: content,
502 Views
|
Warm Christmas Greetings! It's a cool, rainy morning here in Portland, Oregon. My neighbor's lovely garlands of tiny colored lights gleam through the raindrops on our dining room window making rainbows that make me think of Pollyanna's (from the book/movie) prisms. Sweet and happy thoughts and memories drift through the misty air and from somewhere the faintest strains of O Holy Night can be heard. I opted to watch Fiddler on the Roof as my 'home alone' Christmas movie Saturday night. Last night, of course, we went to Christmas Eve services at church, came home, and had egg nog sitting quietly before the Yule log burning in the fireplace (so thoughtfully provided for our enjoyment by Oregon Public Broadcasting!) as we talked for awhile before going to bed.
I'm just checking in momentarily to thank each of you for the warmth, fun and great fellowship we've shared over the past seven (almost eight) months. My blogland family has truly made the transition from Tennessee to Oregon comfortable and painless. Thanks for all the laughs, support, kind words and complements you've shared so generously. Because of you, I'm looking forward to a wonderful New Year of blogging and getting to know each other even better! So, thank you, my friends and until next year - a peaceful and joyous Christmas filled with love and hope!
***************
The Fountain City Focus
Fountain City, TN
(A Special Grocery List submitted by Harold's Tours)
Lousie Redden, a pooly dressed lady with a look of defeat on her face, walked into a grocery store. She approached the owner of the store in a most humble manner and asked if he would let her charge a few groceries. She softly explained that her husband was very ill and unable to work. They had seven children and they needed food.
John Longhouse, the grocer, scoffed at her and requested that she leave his store at once. Visualizing the family needs she said, "Please Sir! I will bring you the money just as soon as I can." John told her he could not give her credit since she did
not have a charge account at his store.
Standing beside the counter was a customer who overheard the conversation between the two. The customer walked forward and told the grocer that he would stand good for whatever she needed for her family. The grocer asked in a very reluctant voice, "Do you have a grocery list?"
Louise replied, "Yes, Sir."
"OK," Longhouse said, "Put it on the scales and whatever your grocery list weighs, I will give you that amount in groceries." Louise hesitated a moment with a bowed head, then she reached into her purse, took out a piece of paper and scribbled something on it. She then laid the piece of paper on the scales with her head still bowed. The eyes of the grocer and the customer showed amazement when the scales went down and stayed down. The grocer standing at the scales truned slowly to the customer and said begrudgingly, "I can't believe it."
The customer smiled as the grocer started putting the groceries on the other side of the scale. The scales did not balance, so he continued to put more and more groceries on them until the scales would hold no more. The grocer stood there is utter disgust. Finally he grabbed the piece of paper from the scales and looked at it with greater amazement. It was not a grocery
list -
It was a prayer, which said: "DEAR LORD, YOU KNOW MY NEEDS AND I AM LEAVING THIS IN YOUR HANDS."
The grocer gave her the groceries that he had gathered and stood in stunned silence. Louise thanked him and left the store. The other customer handed a fifty-dollar bill to Mr. Longhouse and said, "It was worth every penny of it. Only God knows how much a prayer weighs.
"The richest person is not the one who has the most, but the one who needs the least." - Unknown
***************
Now, to let Buddy in, dry him off and put me back to bed!
Jesus is the Reason for the Season!
The Hag
|
|
|
13
Comments
|
|
|
There's a Kind of Hush...
|
Dec 23, 2006 6:59 pm
Mood: peaceful,
437 Views
|
Whoosh! How'd this happen? It's seven p.m. (or thereabouts) on Christmas-Eve Eve. The last of the gifts boxes have been wrapped and spirited away with Reid and his dad. Anna is on an emergency business trip to California, Paul is at work and Greg has gone to a Christmas party with our houseguest. Can you believe this? I am home alone until midnight or after. So, here's what I gonna do: make a dinner plate full of goodies - chicken salad, cheese cubes, veggie tray w/dips, every cracker known to man, Chex Mix and enough sweets to start a Candie Shoppe - watch some schmaltzy old movie (I have a collection if there isn't one already on - maybe 84 Charing Cross Road again), then light the candles in my bathroom and have the longest soak on record before I go to sleep (Yes, thank you. Buddy has been walked - he'll be glad for a rest from Reid!).
It's been a great season with you, my friends! Continue to enjoy!
...oOo... ...oOo... ...oOo... ...oOo...
The Best Puppy
A store owner was hanging a sign above his door, which
read: “PUPPIES FOR SALE”
A little boy was attracted with the sign and he appeared under the store owner’s window and asked: “How much are you going to sell the puppies for?” The owner replied: “Anywhere from $30 to $50.” The little boy reached into his pocket and pulled out some change. “I have $3,” he said. “Can I please look at them?”
The owner smiled and whistled and out of the kennel came the mama dog followed by five small puppies. One puppy was lagging considerably behind. Immediately, the little boy noticed the limping puppy and asked: “What’s wrong with that one?” The owner explained that the veterinarian had examined the little dog and had discovered that it didn’t have a hip socket. It meant he would always be lame.
The little boy became excited. “That puppy is what I want to buy.” The owner said: “No, you won’t want to buy that puppy. If you really want him, I will just give it to you.”
The little boy got quite upset. He looked straight into the owner’s eyes and said, “I don’t want you to give him to me. That little dog is worth every bit as much as the other puppies and I’ll pay the full price.”
The owner countered, “You really don’t want to buy this little dog. He is never going to be able to run and jump and play with you like the other puppies.” To the owner’s surprise, the little boy reached down and rolled up his pant leg revealing a badly twisted, crippled left leg supported by a metal brace. He looked up at the storeowner and softly replied: “Well, I don’t run so well myself, and the little puppy will need someone who understands!”
...oOo... ...oOo... ...oOo... ...oOo...
Jesus is the Reason for the Season!
The Hag
|
|
|
10
Comments
|
|
To link to this blog (TheHag) use [blog TheHag] in your messages.
|
|
|
| Sun |
Mon |
Tue |
Wed |
Thu |
Fri |
Sat |
| |
|
|
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
51
|
6
|
7
|
8
|
9
|
10
|
11
|
12
|
13
|
14
|
15
|
16
|
17
|
|
181
|
19
|
20
|
21
|
22
|
23
|
24
|
25
|
26
|
27
|
28
|
29
|
30
|
31
|
|
|
