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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 ......................................  .......................................... |
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ParisDreamer: PARIS IS OUT OF SURGERY!
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Apr 14, 2007 1:20 pm
Mood: relieved,
1211 Views
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MOOD: Relieved !!!
AT 9:44PM CDT (Little Rock time!) MissMermaid let us know: Quote - "Just received word, she had surgery,,Thank God she still with us,,She is strong woman, and we keep praying for her..God has answered our prayers, and we keep praying for more for Paris..." (this quote appears in the comments on this blog page)
This is wonderful, wonderful news, indeed! We're gonna keep the prayers going around here, and everywhere else, too, I know. What great joy!
Hallelujah! everybody! and as Jerry Clowers used to say, "Ain't God good!!!
Hagitha the Happy!
***************
Belle_La_Donna has talked to Paris/Venus today and Paris just went into surgery. It was postponed till now because of some medical emergencies this morning. 1:30 pm.
LOL..she answered the phone: "I'm not dead yet."
Belle
Now, isn't that our Paris/Venus, flat out? Whatta Gal! Gotta love that spirit!
Keep it up, Prayer Warriors!
The Hag
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Thoughts Only of ParisDreamer
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Apr 14, 2007 7:30 am
Mood: anxious,
1225 Views
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Our sister Venus will be in surgery in less than an hour, if the OR schedule is on time at St. Vincent's (used to be Infirmary) in my old home town of Little Rock, Arkansas. They've always been known as a fine establishment with good people on staff. I've walked those halls, and kept vigil in that surgery lounge in the flesh, as I do this moment in spirit. Somebody said, "faith isn't faith until it's the only thing you're holding on to." A lot of us are holding on for Venus' sake this morning. "And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief." (Mark 9:24)
This I Know
by Helen Steiner Rice
I know not by what methods rare,
But this I know, God answers prayer.
I know that He has given His Word
That tells me prayer is always heard,
And will be answered, soon or late,
And so I pray and calmly wait.
I know not if the blessing sought
Will come in just the way I thought,
But leave my prayers with Him alone,
Whose will is wiser than mine own,
Assured that He will grant my quest,
Or send some answer far more blest.
Joy and hope in Jesus!
Elsie
Comments on my blog post to the TOP OF THE PAGE. Everyone can comment, I hope!
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22
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Vignettes
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Apr 13, 2007 8:13 am
Mood: cheerful,
777 Views
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..........Travel mug of coffee in hand I stopped into the Records Office at the university on my way to my own suite in the College of Arts and Sciences. On the previous afternoon I had sent over a request list for transcripts to update student files. It was early and my friend Teresa and I were the only ones in the office. I sat down in one of the chairs lining the wall, removed my glasses, leaned my head back and closed my eyes, waiting for Teresa to see if the reports were ready. She was used to this.
Another of the office workers arrived, closely followed by a petite, fashionably dressed lady with quite an air of authority (think Emily Gilmore ). Still wearing her coat and holding her tote bag, Marie walked behind the counter and smiled: "Good morning, how may I help you?"
"I'm Mrs. Charles Johnson and I need to get a copy of my son's transcript, please. His name is Johnson (she spelled it), Edward A. This is his Social Security number and my driver's license." Marie took the documents from the delicate, French-manicured hand and looked at them. "Do you have a notarized letter of permission from your son, allowing you to pick up the transcript, Mrs. Johnson?"
"What do you mean? Of course not. I'm his mother."
"I understand, Ma'am, but your son is an adult and university policy allows us to release student records to third parties only with the student's notarized permission."
"That's ridiculous. His father and I are paying his tuition and I want those transcripts."
"I understand, Ma'am, but without your son's OK, there's nothing we can do."
"Young lady, I went to school with the President of this University and I demand to speak with your supervisor right now!"
Silently, Teresa placed her right index finger beneath the word 'Supervisor' printed in bold caps above the name on her ID badge.
Mrs. Johnson's lips turned white, her winged eyebrows tented into points over her wide-eyed stare. She then turned a shade of red most often seen at the Pink Tomato Festival, which did not go at all well with the cranberry wool suit she was wearing. She whirled on her five-inch stiletto-heeled patent leather pumps and went to the door.
Before it was the Records Office, this had been the Business Office. Those double-doors were steel boxes more than an inch thick, held open with a flip-down rubber-tipped doorstop attached to each.
Mrs. Johnson grabbed the edge of one of these and tried with all her might to slam it shut. She jerked; the door didn't move. She heaved; the door didn't move. She dug those heels into the carpet and pushed; the door didn't move. She took hold of the push-bar used to open the door and began to rock back and forth with all of her strength. She looked like Olive Oyl clinging desperately to the main mast in a ten-knot gale. Nothing happened.
Teresa, Marie and I are nearly blue from holding our breath, because to laugh is to give cause for complaint. Not a good thing.
Finally, Mrs. Johnson realizes she's been defeated. She let go of the push-bar, smoothed her hair, then her cashmere jacket and looked back at Marie. "You will see me again," she declared, "and you will give me a copy of that transcript!" Whereupon she marched through the door and down the hall.
I was glad i was seated. Teresa and Marie supported themselves on the counter as we three howled like Banshees for at least three minutes!
***************
.....My husband and I had just relocated to Cincinnati, Ohio, and I'd not yet found work as a transcriptionist. In the interim, I was working with a temporary agency and was on assignment to one of the banks that was promoting "apply by phone" loan applications.
There were twenty of us seated at a huge, open work area constructed of those five-by-two-and-a-half foot folding steel tables, each with an old-fashioned cradle phone, a stack of applications and a supply of pens. We took our calls by headset, but there was a lot of cross-talk among us as we collected the loan information.
The break room was behind the 'call center' and there was a two-step recess between the floor levels.
One evening, at peak call-in time, with the room sounding like an angry mob scene from an 1950's western, Becky jerks off her headset in the middle of a call. She sprinted to the break room door, jumped (!) down those two steps and bent double in paroxysms of laughter. She was gone a good five minutes. She returned to the call room dabbing her eyes with a wet paper towel.
As soon as the call volume let up, of course, we all had to know what had happened:
Becky: And what are you going to use as collateral for the loan?
Caller: My uncle's car.
Becky: I see. Do you have a clear title to the vehicle?
Caller: No ma'am, it's my uncle's.
Becky: OK, that's fine. (We must never discourage the caller.) Is your uncle there? Can he come to the phone to OK this loan?
Caller: Well, no ma'am. He's kinda deceased right now.
***************
My student secretary of three years, a jewel beyond price, had graduated in the spring , forcing us to hire a new one for the fall. About three weeks into the semester, following the morning's (Academic Advisor) counseling sessions, I had given her a stack of folders for filing. My attention was absorbed by our speakers' list for the semester's Alpha Epsilon Delta guest lecture series.
Turning back to ask Vickie a question, I was astounded to see that she'd gotten the upper two-thrids of her body literally wedged into the top drawer of my lateral file credenza, between the top of the file and the folders it contained. Mesmerized, I watched for several seconds as she managed to put two of three of the folders away.
"Excuse me, Vickie, but wouldn't that be easier if you opened the file drawer?"
"You mean ~ it opens?"
My turn! to go flying from the room. Well, now, she had to have passed the SAT to have gained admittance to the university. Right ???
***************
Have a happy day, my friends!
The Hag
Posts to my blog appear at the top of the page. Everyone can post comments, I hope!
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A Personal Epiphany
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Apr 11, 2007 7:46 am
Mood: peaceful,
706 Views
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.......... Monday through Thursday nights, I have a long IM conversation with my niece. We chat while we're on our dinner breaks ~ sometimes the discussion is tabled because of work, but not too often.
She's fifteen months younger than I, and one of perhaps a half-dozen people who've been in my life as long as I can remember. In many ways, we are diametric opposites. The emotional climate and child-rearing practices under which we grew up are poles apart, as are our personalities. Our tastes and opinions differ greatly, but we share the same love of many things: books, the performing arts, great cuisine and unusual recipes, and of course, our family memories.
Last night's discussion honed in on Boston Legal. It's my absolute favorite TV series, but she can't stand it. She enjoys The Closer and The Riches: I can abide neither. She had asked me to explain my love for BL and I was holding forth with great eloquence  when our time ran out. This evening, we plan to resume where we left off.
After the conversation ended, I sat here thinking about our discussions (some quite intense) over the decades past ~ the many significant differences of opinion we've held on everything from politicians to skirt lengths. Differences that, no matter how many times the subjects resurface, will never diminish. We may explain ourselves ad nauseam, but we will never reach an accord. We each possess characteristics that the other cannot understand.
Suddenly I realized that understanding isn't the key. The key is acceptance. It's been years since we really argued. Our interchange is always lively, pointed and subtle but there's been no ire or angst in a very long time. All the old fires of family feuds are banked with us and the contentions have been put to rest. The strongest wave of peace washed over me as I realized that the two of us will never relive the bitter, accusatory quarrels I remember taking place between my mother and her older sister, when I was just a child.
I took a swallow of warm, strong coffee and held it against the back of my throat, savoring before swallowing it. I removed my glasses, closed my eyes and breathed a sigh that reached to my toes. I don't know when this happened, but we have become comfortable with each other's unique character.
We are literally life-long friends who share an invisible bond of true acceptance. How rare is that?
"A friend is someone to whom you can say any j*cka$$ thing that comes into your mind." ~ John D. MacDonald
The Hag
New comments on my blog post at the TOP OF THE PAGE. Everyone can comment (I hope).
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Breathing Room
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Apr 10, 2007 7:22 am
Mood: content,
666 Views
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..........This is the second morning of my spring vacation! Coffee's brewin', biscuits (baby Anna called them 'bissits' and loved to help make them) are baking and black beans are soaking for a soup supper. Paul is going to walk Buddy when he arrives momentarily, as it's misting rain and he's already out in it.
Spent yesterday simply vegging. Got most of the remaining work done on the crocheted top I was making at the end of the summer, but put away unfinished because the weather was going to be too cool for me to wear it. Sat out on the back patio with a pot of coffee and considered possibilities for improving the yard. When I 'get woke up' today, I'm going to start the basic cleaning in the living room - in depth dusting of book shelves, etc. Much to do this week with plans for playtime factored in! We hope to go to open mike poetry night somewhere on Thursday.
I fear I may have caused some undue concern in posting my approaching 'deadline' for choosing whether to make the trip to Portland, OR, a real relocation. I asked for prayers and opinions because "where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counselors there is safety." (Proverbs 11:14) Should I be leaving Portland, all I need to do is repack the bags and board the bus. I came out via the northern route and want to return by the southern one, so that I can see more of the country. No later than the second week in June, I'll be 'home' in Knoxville or working on becoming a true Oregonian. I'll keep my friends here current on the progress and post a special blog as soon as we know. Your interest and support are invaluable to me. Many thanks.
During my 'me time' this week, I hope to blog a bit more than usual and catch up with the Rubenesque Women of the World. I've been neglecting that crowd lately and I'd like to find some of them in the RWW Chat Room.
The coffee's fresh and hot just now, so wishing you a great day, I'm gonna grab a cuppa!
Joy in Jesus!
The Hag
Comments on my blog post to the TOP OF THE PAGE.
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The Woman's Testimony
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Apr 8, 2007 8:58 am
Mood: ecstatic,
701 Views
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Those early experiences, precious and wonderful as they are to me, did not turn my life into one of peaceful harmony, where my every need was met before I experienced any anxiety or unhappiness. The world I lived in was the same as the millions of others of my generation. As I've said before, we were blessed with a good life, always having just a little bit more than we needed, a little bit less than we wanted and dreams to keep us motivated.
When I was thirteen, three of my friends and I held hands as we walked down the sawdust aisle to answer the altar call in summer camp. Neither of us had the nerve to go alone. We were baptized in the swimming pond on a hot, Arkansas August Sunday, just before we went home. As a teen, through middle and high school, I had the average number of struggles and disagreements with my parents. Being a saved, baptized church member, who taught the six and seven year-olds in Sunday School, only made it worse. I was everything I wasn't supposed to be, and I was nothing like I was supposed to be. But, we all got through it.
In college and on my own, I discovered anthropology, philosophy, comparative religion and The Beatles. It was acculturation by association. Not to have developed some interest in the Fab Four would have meant being a friendless 'bookworm' (as 'nerds' were called in those days). Every month when I went home to visit, I was touting some new 'ism' that I was exploring. I remember my weary brother's comment to Mama one Sunday, as he was wolfing down a meal between two of his several jobs: "Mama! In the last six months, Elsie has been everything but a Hindu and an atheist. I gotta go to work and I don't want to hear any more about it!"
The real conversion happened when I was 20. Cleaning the apartment one Saturday morning, thinking about what I'd wear to church the next day, I realized that this was just another social club. There was no substance here - certainly not the substance I suddenly wanted. I stopped what I was doing and began a quest. In the phone book I found the address of the largest Christian book store in our area. Two hours later, I was there. I bought a new Oxford Study Bible, a Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, Halley's Bible Handbook, Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible, and two sets of Bible marking pens (guaranteed not to bleed through when highlighting scripture passages). I was set. I found a Bible college that had a free correspondence course and signed up. Within that year, I began to develop a real relationship with HIM. We moved from the silliness of childhood, the unreasonable demands and absurd expectations, toward a more adult appreciation of what this thing called 'Christianity' was all about. I found a new 'denomination' and when I was sure I had repented and been forgiven, I was 'really' baptized and joined.
Have I made mistakes? Thousands of them.
Have I failed? Abundantly. See Irreparable Damage for examples.
Have I suffered setbacks and disappointments? That 107 degree fever fried the pituitary-endocrine system, leaving me sterile with Cushing's syndrome.
Have I done less than my best? Every day of the world.
But, that's the beauty of Grace - HE gives us every opportunity to grow, to build, to get up and try again, time after time, after time, after time. His compassion, His mercy, His love never fail. Never. HE doesn't take us out of the struggles and suffering of life, HE goes through it with us, holding us up, giving us courage and hope. I have a long way to go before I'll be the person I want to be, but every day, I'm a few steps farther away from the person I used to be and that is only because of HIM.
My Chapel
I step inside and close the door,
His quiet peace surrounds me.
No matter what pain I've laid on that floor,
His love and His mercy have found me.
He knows my pain, He knows my grief,
He knows my loss and sorrow,
He knows when I have failed to believe
That He will provide for tomorrow.
He hears my heart's wild shouts of joy!
He shares my every pleasure!
For I am the child whom He died to save,
And His compassion knows no measure!
~ The Hag (c) 2005
HE is Risen!
Comments on my blog appear at the TOP OF THE PAGE when posted.
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10
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Per Your Request, Classic
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Apr 5, 2007 6:32 pm
Mood: hopeful,
697 Views
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I thought this posted on the original blog when I did the update, but since it didn't , we'll try again.
Thanks for your interest!
The Hag
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FOR DISPLAY PURPOSES ONLY
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Apr 4, 2007 8:11 am
Mood: disappointed,
721 Views
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MOOD: pleased
Thank you for your help, my friends! I noted all of the flaws you mention and several that have gone unnoticed ~ once the design appeared on my screen.
I am a wordsmith, not an artist. I could put that design atop a sheet cake and the flaws would disappear deliciously! My sketches and paintings bring fun and good communication with the children, when we draw together. Also, the occasional original greeting card is most often well received. This truly is where I 'play' and I had no expectations as to the outcome. It was an enjoyable growth experience and I thank you for your view, your comment and your time.
"To try and miss the goal is not a failure, the failure is not to have tried."
~ (I learned it from) John Wallace Golden, Esq.
Elsie
04/05/07
***************
This is my suggested design for the 2007 Nashville Bash Commemorative Tee-Shirt.
Changes can be made to this logo or elements from it can be incorporated into other designs. Input is most welcome.
I don't know who will host the Voting Blog, or exactly how that will be done - depending upon the number of entries, a poll might work.
Anyway, m'heart's done broke  on accounta because I cain't make it. Just, everybody be sure to give each other an extra big hug from me, and remember that I'm there in spirit!
"But what reality can't change, my dreams and wishes can arrange, and through my wishing" I'll be there each day ..."a guest in thought." ~ Helen Steiner Rice
The Hag
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Change Is On The Wind
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Apr 2, 2007 10:58 pm
Mood: restless,
794 Views
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Along with the greening landscape, we're making changes in the household and decisions of portent can be averted no longer:
Big Disappointment
There's no way I can attend the Nashville Bash, due to family plans, work schedules and other imperatives of the real world. I'm almost finished with my entry for the T-shirt design contest, though, and should post it here on Wednesday, April 4. I know what a wonderful experience the Bash will be, and I'll be there in heart and spirit, too!
Household Rearrangement
Our housemate, Paul, who returned from Ireland a few months ago, has found the house he wants to buy, so will be moving as soon as the deal closes. Marvin, the friend who was our guest over the holidays, will become our new housemate. I am moving into Paul's room and then Marvin will have what is now mine. It means I get a bigger closet!  We're losing our Computer Guru in Residence, though, and that's a gonna hurt!  Paul was a lifesaver when I completely scrambled my system last week. Still don't know what I did, but glad he was on hand to fix it !!
I will be off work the week following Easter, as will Marvin. We've ordered a dumpster to be set up out back so that we can do Spring Cleaning in ernest - aaooowww! my aching back, head, and places I don't know I have yet! Better add Extra-Strength Tylenol to the shopping list! This also means another game of 'musical furniture' and where to put what. With my whole soul, I hope Lola will not experience a relapse into her anxiety from the last such change, and feel the need to baptize Marvin's furniture to mark her territory! We're having Rainbow International cleaning service come in to steam, deodorize and treat Paul's damaged items before he leaves. I think we need to buy him a new living room suite, but he declined, thinking he'll want to replace this one anyway once he's settled into the new digs.
Lola's trip to the vet a few weeks back revealed no health problems - just emotional anxiety/displeasure at having her privy tampered with. He prescribed some vitamins to add to her food and suggested we give her fresh water twice a day, instead of just in the morning. Now, she's drinking Britta Water along with the rest of us humans. We bought her a new cat box, changed brands of litter, and 'marked a trail' for her by spreading catnip along the hall baseboard and around the box itself. She's been calmer and more at ease since then. Everybody knows to keep hands off! I hope that'll be enough to keep her settled during the moves and with the expected company coming into town over the next couple of months.
Spring Break
My work schedule will be lighter between Easter and Memorial Day - then the vacation season begins. This will be the time to shop for that volunteer project I've had on the back burner for some months, if...
if I'm still going to be here, 'cause...
I Gotta Quit Straddlin' the Fence
The time has come when I must get off the fence - very soon now, I must choose whether I'm going to make a permanent relocation to Portland, Oregon, or return to my 'home' in Knoxville, Tennessee. There are dearly-loved people in both locations who want/need me to be with them and I really don't know what to do. There are advantages/disadvantages for both options, of course.
My heart tugs me back to Tennessee because the folks there are older and more in need of my presence. Anna, Paul, Greg and their cadre of bright-faced, vital young friends are wonderful inspiration, fun and excitement but nobody here really 'needs' me. I was born to be a work horse, not a 'hood ornament' - no unkindness or disrespect to these dear young people felt or intended.
Also, that will mean finding a real job here. My agreement with the firm back in Knoxville was that I could carry on 'long distance' for a year, but at the end of that time, I'd either have to come home or surrender the post to someone local. This did and does make good sense to me. GAG! THOUGH, HOW I HATE, LOATHE AND DESPISE JOB HUNTING! The kids say, "Akuna matata, Auntie, we'll take care of you," but again, am I ready for that already ???
So, Dear Friends, I'm much in need of wisdom, support and guidance - a real 'sign from the Lord' as to what I ought to do. Once I feel confident of that, I can do what needs to be done. Your thoughts and prayers will be greatly appreciated! 
With hugs of gratitude!
The Hag
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Surely, You Must Have Heard...
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Mar 31, 2007 11:52 pm
Mood: scared,
739 Views
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There's a huge (and growing) pet food recall going on across the United States and Canada. Alarmist reports exaggerate the damages and sociopathic hoaxes also are being circulated, but the underlying concern is very real.
For fear of being censored, I'll not cite any names at all, either of the parent supplier of the foods contaminated with rat poison or other toxic substances, or of the various brand-name pet foods containing them. I want everyone, especially the pet owners among us, to know that the danger is there and the number of products included grows from one news report to the next.
(Some reports of cross-contamination involving humans have surfaced, but I've not verified them. Be aware.)
Please check out your favorite on-line news source, a national news program and inquire at a large retail food/pet store in your area to learn the current status in your locale. By all means, look for any alerts or warnings before you purchase new pet food for your dogs and cats - even if it's a tried-and-true brand you've been using for some time.
Hoping this helps get the message out and across, since busy people can fail to catch very important news from time to time.
Yours in anxiety!
The Hag
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