veterans » Warriors and Kin

So what’s new for 2012?

family, military, Paganism, veterans 1 Response »

Jan 072012

Good morning everyone, and Happy Saturday once again! So how was your New Year’s? 2012 is already gearing up to be an interesting one (be it good or bad), and with it a Presidential election this year, it’s sure to be one of many ups and downs – with a lot of dirty laundry being aired out. So I’m sure the blogs and news articles will be filled with political slants and views, W&K included. Just puttin’ it out there, as they say.

So many people have said their one-word description of 2011 is “sucked”, and there’s a topper that came on New Year’s Eve: The potential for indefinite detention of U.S. citizens. I’m pretty indifferent to our President for the most part, as I voted against Palin when I cast my ballot for Obama. Among other things, I’m one of those crazy people who think people should only be hired if they have prior experience instead of “learning as you go” or relying on book-smarts or others. Therefore, I wasn’t cool with voting for someone without any military experience to become the Commander-in-Chief. Some days, I think he’s a pretty awesome guy, like the repeal of DADT, and other days, I wonder what the heck he was thinking. Yes, yes, he needed to get some funding for our military, but at the cost of our freedom? Whiskey. Tango. Foxtrot.

An article that appeared yesterday in conjunction with the cutbacks he made in signing the National Defense Authorization Act points out concerns a smaller military will put us in jeopardy. I’m all for a leaner, meaner military, but is it really feasible this late in the game? Reminders have been posted for Soldiers considering re-upping there will be fewer opportunities after January 31st due to some of these cuts. Again, just puttin’ it out there.

Now as far as a couple good changes for this year, I did want to share these:

- New law will expedite Soldiers thru airport security: This will include a family member as well, to the best extension possible, so yeah, I think this counts as not only a good thing, but one of common sense. My only hope is more common sense will be extended for everyone, because frisking Grandma is ridiculous.

- 2% increase to BAH: Good! Excellent! Fab-U-Lous! The increase is on an average, but most families should see some help coming down the pipeline very soon, if not already. As I’ve posted before, many folks are under the assumption the military takes care of every need, with the paycheck being almost like bonus cash. Ummm… errrr… not so much. Yes, Tri-Care provides free medical care, the commissary (grocery store) costs are slightly above wholesale with no sales tax, and BAH helps a good deal on housing costs, but ask any young family on a tight budget how much diapers and peanut butter costs. And as I’ve pointed out too, a spouse trying to get a job is extremely difficult due to all the moving around. Many employers don’t want to hire someone they worry will up and leave on a whim, because hey – no one likes training new people. (I’m sure the folks training me, while they do seem to like me, get annoyed with me constantly asking “dumb questions” and hope I’ll be out of my honeymoon period soon.)

- And lest I forget to mention, a new friend I’ve made at last year’s Pagan Spirit Gathering (which is now OPEN for registration!), Kidril Telrunya, announced she is “…now leading the State of Wisconsin in revising United States Military/Prison Chaplains Manual”. This is awesome news, especially for our military, because it sure would be nice for our Warriors to have a chaplain to confide in who truly gets them. I asked her to provide further details on her mission, which she was more than obliged to do once the dust settles. I’ll keep you all posted.

Have you been alerted to any new changes for 2012? Please do share!

And now onto couponing news!

Coupon Haul for December, 2011

Well folks, fiscal fourth quarter is officially over, and I’ve been very busy here at home getting up December’s coupon count for you all. I have everything sorted and separated, but I will need a few more days to count everything up. My canvas bags overfloweth! Just judging by my sorting and eyeballing, I can safely say we’ve at least come close to matching November’s totals of over $13k if not surpassing it, and I really thought it wasn’t going to happen. There were two weeks without any newspaper inserts, so my portion was on the slim side by comparison. Therefore, I’m counting on our end-of-year total to be around $50,000 worth of coupons! How cool is that?! It was our first year, and we didn’t even start until Memorial Day weekend, so I can only imagine what 2012 will be like!

I want to take a moment to thank the following who’ve generously donated for December: Leadville, CO, Frederick, MD, Westminster, CO, Gardena, CA, and of course Addison, IL (including the retirement community contributing to those batches!). In the batches, there was also $11.00 in cash, which I greatly appreciate, as it helps defer the cost of the packages I send out. I also wanted to share with you a thank you letter *we* received from the Army post in Wiesbaden, Germany. I scanned it into PDF format, which you can read by clicking here. (I Haz a Happee they addressed us as “Pagan Newswire” – proof our generosity does indeed garner some positive Pagan awareness without proselytizing in any way. We’re just ordinary, good people out to do good.)

I hope we’re able to make another new adoption! But what I’d really like to know is if U.S. commissaries accept coupons up to six months expired. The FAQ reads it’s true for overseas, but it does not specifically state what the policy is within the U.S. When it comes to coupon policies, I’ve come to find ambiguity means me winning at the register!

And I’ll go ahead and post again how YOU can get involved!

1) Like! the Facebook page and let your friends and family know what’s going on! This is an exciting venture that more people need to know about!

2) Help me spread the word by mentioning the campaign in your blogs and posts. If you do a podcast or are running a festival, please feel free to contact me (doom diva [at] yahoo [dot] com). I can go on all day about how couponing not only helps ourselves to great deals (including savings on organic fare and fresh and frozen fruits, veggies, dairy and meats!), but again, it actively helps those whose mission it is to serve and defend our country.

3) Send coupons! This is a campaign that is national, meaning you don’t need to even live near a coven or group to get involved, and you don’t need any real ability or skill. Kids can do this. Disabled people can do this. Our Elders can do this. All it takes is a little time and a stamped envelope. Mail your unwanted/expired manufacturer coupons to:

PNC Military – Clip for the Troops
Attn: Lori Dake
PO Box 306
Chicago, IL 60690-0306

I check the post office box downtown on the last Saturday of each month.

4) Drop a buck or two into the pot. So far, I’ve received $21 towards the postage, which is greatly appreciated, and I have received word a check for $80 is on the way. THANK YOU!!!! Mailing little slips of paper doesn’t seem like much, but paper is heavy, even newsprint, and each package has been costing me $4.95 to send. If you would like to donate via PayPal, please email me so I can provide you with the email account (my husband’s verified business account, so you know it’s safe!). Again, my email address is doom diva (at) yahoo (dot) com (I’ve had that address since ’98).

5) If you’re local, contact me about stopping by for a sorting party! We continue to grow, and I am having a harder and harder time doing this by myself. I live in the Logan Square area of Chicago right off the boulevard (by the “Christmas House“!), right by the expressway, with ample free street parking and plenty of nearby public transportation. I’m an awesome cook and would be more than happy to share a meal for your efforts. (Psst! We always have beer in the fridge and herbal tea on the kettle!)

And now, before I forget to mention too, since this always makes me happy, I received a couple more thank-yous from military folk in private emails. This is for another charity I’m involved in, Operation: eBook Drop, which provides free eBooks to military personnel. To date, over 100 free downloads of my book have been received, which is more of a light-hearted, how-to book on festivals. I hope more Pagan authors sign up for the program, because it’s another great way to gently promote positive Pagan awareness as well as provide something for our Warriors to read. If you want to sign up for free eBooks or want to donate your works, check out the site!

Have a great week everyone and until next Saturday, take care!

And a Happy 2012!

family, military, Paganism, veterans 1 Response »

Dec 312011

Good morning everyone, and happy Saturday once again! So who’s got plans tonight? For us, not anything extravagant. I’m making some split pea soup for luck, letting it simmer s-l-o-w-l-y so all the flavors come through, and we’ll probably chillax on the sofa while watching the tube. (Is Dick Clark still around?) And yeah, I’m sure come Sunday, I’ll be putting in some overtime on the Kinect trying to drop a few pounds… especially after baking all those cookies last week! (Pssst! Did you find the recipes I hid in there? If not – look again!)

Do you have any resolutions? The old standbys are to lose weight and kick an addiction or vice, but perhaps you have a different goal in mind. Maybe you want to find a (better) job. Or go (back) to school. Or pay down/off a debt or three. Or master a new skill. Or travel someplace spiritually meaningful and fulfilling. Whatever you resolve to do this year, remember you have a whole year to do it. That’s 366 days – an extra day due to the leap year!

Whatever you choose to resolve, choose a goal that is hard but not impossible, and tell supportive people in your life about your resolution. If you’re significantly overweight, resolve to become healthier – not a supermodel. If you want to quit smoking, don’t beat yourself up if you cave in on a nic fit two days in. (I hear it takes many people seven tries.) And if you want to finally make that pilgrimage, reserve the time off and then start pinching pennies. And what if you “fail”? So what – there’s always next year, when you’re that much more determined to reach that goal.

Now for Ron and I, New Year’s Eve is a special night indeed, even if we tend to keep things low-key these days. You see, it’s our other anniversary. We met at a Meat Puppets show on New Year’s Eve sixteen years ago, beneath a full moon no less, and have been exclusive ever since. (Who says you can’t meet a nice guy at a bar?) Needless to say, “Backwater” has a special place in my heart, even if the song’s about heroin addiction, which is not at all romantic or beautiful. I vividly remember that night – the band’s lineup, that beautiful moon outside, what we were wearing and the conversations we had, and it doesn’t seem like all that long ago. Funny how time flies!

What does New Year’s Eve mean to you? Besides the obvious, to me it means a fresh start, and for many of us, a clean slate is definitely needed. I know so many members of my family and friends have been struggling to hold on to even the basics, where the light at the end of the tunnel seems to keep getting pushed back further and further. So many have begun to give up hope, falling off the rails that barely held them before. I say not to give up hope, to push that much harder, because I know from experience what it’s like to struggle.

Where I am now is certainly a far cry from the newspaper job I had when Ron and I met that very magickal night. It was so bitterly cold – my hair turned white, and the soles of my feet split in two, and all for mere $140 a week. But it was work, so I limped through it. And when I think of where I’ve come from, as a poor kid from a broken home in the inner city, with no car and oftentimes no phone, whose only friends were kids in sitcom families, where I am now is a huge change.

I can safely say I know what it’s like to struggle – to wonder if the food pantry will be generous enough, if the roaches will get into the food that wasn’t expired, if even used clothes can be afforded, and if rent and utilities will be paid. It’s because of that and more, I truly appreciate all the blessings the Gods have bestowed upon us. And too, it’s because of that I know there has to be something better down the road for my family and friends who need a leg up. It’s a new year – change is coming. Believe it! Faith not a four-lettered word.

To further illustrate the change for the better we’ve all collectively experienced, let’s look at some important pieces of news within the military this year:

- Death of Osama bin Laden: Whether you rejoiced or felt a quiet calm, one has to admit the world certainly did feel a little bit safer that day. Of course, it was pretty tense right before the President’s announcement; I was shitting bricks thinking the worst when all the channels went to that pending special report!

- Openly gay service member appointed to West Point board: Just a couple months after a former lesbian cadet was denied re-entry to West Point due to DADT still being on the books, our President made this appointment. Whether or not it was a token gesture, I feel this certainly made an impact on how our military views those who wish to serve as they are.

- DADT officially repealed: It took what seems to be a lifetime, but it happened nonetheless. Here’s hoping DOMA is next on the chopping block!

- Air Force Academy’s Pagan Circle news coverage went *positively* mainstream: What can I say? I’m so proud of our friend here at the PNC, Cara Schulz, for garnering some much-needed attention!

- Pagan Warrior Radio launched: If you haven’t tuned in to the podcasts live, be sure to download the archives.

- Orthodox Jewish Rabbi sworn in as military chaplain: When I saw this article, in addition to a Sikh Soldier completing basic training a little over a year ago, it had me thinking it won’t be long until a Pagan chaplain is sworn in as well.

- Iraq war officially ended: The troops are coming home in droves! Thank the Gods! A lot of people, including myself, are rather pissed there is no celebratory homecoming for them, but at least we’re out of that hot mess. There’s still Afghanistan, and Libya, and a host of other battles out there, but at least Iraq is over.

- Two women share first kiss upon Navy ship’s return: And speaking of homecomings, this beautiful moment was made possible thanks to the DADT repeal.

Do you have any points you want to share? Please do tell!

And before I wrap up for 2011, I wanted to make a special mention about our lil ole campaign we got going on – Clip for the Troops! We’ll be heading downtown for this month’s haul, which I’m not sure what will be there. December had the last two weeks with no inserts due to the holidays, so that may have put a kink in our totals for this month. But BAH! We’ve already amassed over $35,000 in coupon contributions since Memorial Day weekend, which is no small feat! THANK YOU! Please continue to contribute however you can; there are many ways:

1) Like! the Facebook page and let your friends and family know what’s going on! This is an exciting venture that more people need to know about!

PNC Military – Clip for the Troops
Attn: Lori Dake
PO Box 306
Chicago, IL 60690-0306

I check the post office box downtown on the last Saturday of each month.

4) Drop a buck or two into the pot. For November, I received $10 towards the postage, which is greatly appreciated, and I have received word a check for $80 is on the way. THANK YOU!!!! Mailing little slips of paper doesn’t seem like much, but paper is heavy, even newsprint, and each package has been costing me $4.95 to send. If you would like to donate via PayPal, please email me so I can provide you with the email account (my husband’s verified business account, so you know it’s safe!). Again, my email address is doom diva (at) yahoo (dot) com (I’ve had that address since ’98).

So once again, HAPPY NEW YEAR! It’s a fresh start!

Have a Cool Yule!

family, military, Paganism, veterans No Responses »

Dec 172011

Happy Holidays!

A Christmas Poem for our Troops

Good morning everyone, and Happy Saturday once again! it’s been another busy and fruitful week for me – how about you? I’ve shed a good deal of unneeded stress from my daily go-around, and I’m in that optimistic sort of mood. (Then again, when am I not chipper?) Hmmm… perhaps it just might have something to do with the flag being lowered in Iraq? Perhaps, yes, that just may be part of my optimism all righty. But too, it’s the magick of the holidays that really excites me, and I hope everyone has the opportunity to share in the merriment in their own way.

For some, the holidays bring depression and loneliness, which is understandable. Folks may not have a loving family to spend the holidays with. They may not be able to afford the gifts they wanted to give. And for many, they may not even have a warm place to sleep on a regular basis. For me, the holidays have always had a special place in my heart, even when I was seven and Santa missed our home. That year, my brother and I wrapped our favorite toys in some leftover tissue paper and gave them to each other – just so we’d have something to open. That’s a very fond memory. (He gave me his Mighty Mo firetruck – the coolest toy evah!) I’ve done that several times over the years, giving my favorite stuff to people in exchange for their pride and joy, like the year in high school I gave my friend my vinyl collection (including a first-run Slayer “Reign in Blood”!!! – a super-duper collector’s item), and she bestowed upon me a beautiful leather jacket I always wanted but couldn’t afford.

Gift-giving, therefore, doesn’t have to be all about a luxury sedan with its annoying, signature jingle* or the latest toy craze; giving a part of yourself is oftentimes the best gifts of all. My husband’s family is HUGE, especially now that his many siblings’ children now have children of their own, and their tradition is to buy something for everyone – no Secret Santa. We can’t possibly afford to “just buy for the kids”, so I bake a few gross of cookies, put them in zippered baggies and wrap them in dollar store gift bags. I’m sure some of the kids think our gifts are lame, but I’m sure they’d think they were even lamer if the gifts were toys that were anything less than video games or silicone-enhanced dolls. (I tried giving story books one time, and that was a huge flop.) Meh, it could be worse; I could pull a Jimmy Kimmel on them for my own demented amusement. If anything, it would make for some fun conversation by the punch bowl.

Now I could go on and on about how we’re supposed to be grateful for what we have, and blah blah blah, but let’s face it – gifts are a big part of what makes the holidays. I don’t believe in guilt-tripping anyone, because it tends to create animosity more than anything. We as adults become a little more than disappointed when we receive craptacular bonuses (or no bonuses at all), as we feel unappreciated for the work we’ve done all year long. We may have a piece of shit car that barely gets us to our long-commute jobs. And, we may have a sadistic boss who (seemingly?) delights in making us miserable. But in the scope of things, our disappointments are, for the most part, #firstworldproblems, and it could always be worse. For those of us working, we could not have a job. For those of us who have family we cannot afford to visit, we could not have a family to even call. And for those of us who wish we lived in a better neighborhood or a better home, we could not have a home at all.

I’m not trying to be a Debbie Downer but actually trying to convey we all can catch a glimmer of that Yuletide cheer fabled in a million stories. Do what makes you happy! If you have no one to spend the holidays with, make new friends and build your own, chosen family. Volunteer for, or donate to, a cause or project that makes you happy, be it a food pantry, soup kitchen, or, my personal favorite – Toys for Tots. Decorate your home with homemade crafts. (Scented pine cones, yarn and glitter cost hardly anything and really liven up the home!) Bake cookies. Attend an open Circle. Sing at a VA hospital. Watch your favorite holiday movies, be it “Bad Santa“, “A Christmas Story“, “Elf” or “A Miracle on 34th Street“. Construct, write and mail cards – there’s still time if you get them out by Monday!

Which hey – that brings me to another side story: One year, Dad told us “Christmas is canceled”, but I wouldn’t hear of such a thing. I went and bought a half dozen boxes of cards and a box of mini candy canes, giving them out to everyone in my various classes in high school. I received almost as many as I distributed and taped them all over the walls at home, along with stringing up the lights and decorating the tree we already had. Some of the cards were store-bought, but many were funny drawings on notebook paper – like the one the Sid Vicious wanna-be guy drew with Santa using the chimney for number two. That one certainly brought a smile to my face, as it did to my dad – Mr. Grumpypants. A smile is infectious, and it’s a gift we can all afford to give.

So, think of all the wonderful ways you can spread some of that magick around and have a wonderful holiday season and a Cool Yule, however you celebrate it. I’ll be back next week! Take care!

* Click it! It’s a funny parody link!

Bearded Rabbi is Latest Army Chaplain, Remains Dumped in Landfill and Incredible Couponing News!

family, military, Paganism, veterans No Responses »

Dec 102011

Good morning everyone, and Happy Saturday once again! So how has your week been? As you know, I needed a little extra time to wrap up the coupon count for the Clip for the Troops campaign, and in a few, I will post the final tally. Why? Well, because the haul was just so massive for November, and with just me doing the sorting and separating, on top of working a full-time job, there simply aren’t enough hours in the day. Is it hard work? Well, it’s not labor-intensive, but it does require a good amount of time and attention to detail, and I’ve never been one for half-assing a job. Let’s get to that in just a moment.

Congratulations to First Lt. Menachem Stern!

In the news this week, a couple articles have been making theirs rounds that I believe are definitely worth mentioning. I am delighted to learn a a bearded Rabbi has become the latest member of the Army chaplaincy, which of course bodes well for the military accepting Pagans into the fold. Just a year ago, a Sikh Soldier completed his training, donning his beard and turban, which obviously shows the military is becoming much more accommodating, open and forthcoming in regards to minority religions. And of course, let’s not forget the beautiful stone Circle the Air Force unveiled recently! Yes indeedy, I feel pretty secure I can call my bookie now and place my bet on a Pagan representative in the chaplaincy, which only a few years ago seemed to be a pipe dream. I got the 2013 block secured, what sayeth you?

Taking on a version of the compliment sandwich, I wanted to discuss something in the news that outright disgusted me this week: The remains of Air Force personnel dumped in a Virginia landfill, lumped together and incinerated with medical waste. When I saw the first articles emerging, my heart sank and my blood boiled at the same time. What?! How can body parts of our troops’ ashes, from those who paid the ultimate sacrifice, be treated like absolute garbage? These are people – people who cared enough about us and our country to follow their calling by defending it – whose remains were unceremoniously dumped out of a truck like dry concrete at a job site. And this didn’t happen in some third world country – this happened right here, in our Capitol’s back yard no less! While I do appreciate efficiency and am all for curtailing our tax dollars, there are some things like a honorable ceremony that is not only expected but demanded.

Ugh. Absolutely sickening. If any family members would like to collect further information, they may contact the established call center for further information: 1-855-637-2583 or e-mail dover.pm@pentagon.af.mil. I know if there was a chance one of my loved ones was involved, I’d be hopping a plane to Dover right now, and I avoid flying at all costs!

Let’s get out of this for a second, because my heart can’t take that right now.

Now as far as what’s up with November’s coupon haul, I again want to thank Denver, Co and Addison, IL, along with the retirement community providing coupons to Addison, for their love, generosity and support. That can’t be said enough. Really, I can’t reiterate enough how much it’s appreciated! I finally finished the count last night, and the total came up to… get this… $13,586.49! Seriously – no shit! I thought it was going to be around $9k, so I was completely blown out of the water when I was running the calculator! Do you want to know what over $13,000 looks like? Well here ya go!

November 2011 Coupon Haul

As you can see, I had them separated into two canvas bags – food and not food, and I have packed them into NINE shipments. Nine, as in – yes, more adoptions!! We’d like to welcome the following five installations into the fold:

U.S. Air Force in Okinawa, Japan
U.S. Marine Corps in Iwakuni, Japan
U.S. Army in Vicenza, Italy
U.S. Air Force in Lakenheath, U.K.
U.S. Army in Okinawa, Japan

Why so many in Japan? Well, the cost of living out there is insane for one thing (and you thought Manhattan was bad!), but realistically speaking, there are quite a few installations in that small country based partly on its geographical location. Let’s not forget too, they had that meltdown earlier this year, and I can only imagine how badly that has driven up the cost of food. (Yes, I checked ahead, and all these installations are currently in operation.) As you know, our goal is to disperse coupons to every installation currently accepting new adoptions listed on the Overseas Coupon Program website, as well as take on any new leads provided by the installations themselves and of course from you!

On that, I’d be more than interested in taking on bases and posts within the United States, provided they too can accept expired coupons up to six months old. Can they? I know right here in America, many military families struggle to make ends meet, having to resort to accepting food stamps and visiting food pantries just to keep their heads above water. DFAC doesn’t feed the kids, and as we can all agree, no child should ever have to go hungry. And what’s more, our troops have enough things to worry; they shouldn’t have to worry about making sure their families have enough to eat.

As you know, the Clip for the Troops campaign started over Memorial Day weekend of this year, and we have collected over $30,000 dollars worth of manufacturer coupons in that amount of time – with a minimal amount of publicity. I’d like to think that’s a pretty awesome feat, and every month, the hauls get bigger! (There’s already an estimated $6,000 worth sitting on my desk for December!) Not only are we helping the families, but at the same time, we are actively promoting positive Pagan awareness by letting folks know we’re out there, we care, and we’re pretty ordinary folk. After all, what could be more mundane than clipping coupons? We don’t proselytize, we don’t hand out religious information, and we certainly don’t judge. We’re just good, ordinary people out to do good.

Would you like to get involved? There are many ways!

1) Like! the Facebook page and let your friends and family know what’s going on! This is an exciting venture that more people need to know about!

PNC Military – Clip for the Troops
Attn: Lori Dake
PO Box 306
Chicago, IL 60690-0306

I check the post office box downtown on the last Saturday of each month.

4) Drop a buck or two into the pot. For November, I received $10 towards the postage, which is greatly appreciated. Mailing little slips of paper doesn’t seem like much, but paper is heavy, even newsprint, and each package has been costing me $4.95 to send. If you would like to donate via PayPal, please email me so I can provide you with the email account (my husband’s verified business account, so you know it’s safe!). Again, my email address is doom diva (at) yahoo (dot) com (I’ve had that address since ’98).

I have been a part of the Chicago Pagan community for nearly sixteen years, so feel free to ask around for my creds if you’re at all concerned about contributing in any way. My books and doors are always open, and I would be delighted to answer any questions you may have. My service is toward the community and the Gods.

Once again, thank you for continuing to support the campaign, and your generosity can never be thanked enough.

Until next week, take care!

Practical Magick in Gift Form

family, military, Paganism, veterans 3 Responses »

Dec 032011

Good morning everyone, and Happy Saturday once again! It’s been an incredibly busy week for me at the day job, because I was trying to catch up for being four days off in a row. You see, this is my company’s busiest time of year, as the main service they provide is chimney sweeping and repair. With the cost of everything up these days, many people are (re)discovering their fireplaces as heat sources. It makes me a bit sad that it seems everyone is getting their hearths going and I can’t, as our apartment’s fireplace is bricked up. The people upstairs get to use theirs, so I have to assume there’s a reason why ours isn’t usable. Oh well – at least we have the beautiful mantle, which we made look even nicer by painting it earlier this year. With the holiday decorations, it really does pop!

I am also proud to say I have gotten Ron and Ryan’s holiday shopping done yesterday morning. There’s still quite a few items being delivered, since I took advantage of the Black Friday deals online, including picking out my own gift: a $800+ sewing machine for only $159 on an Amazon “Lightning Deal”. (Think of that as an online “Blue Light Special”.) I know, how weird – I bought my own present – but when the deal popped up, I showed it to Ron, and he encouraged me to pounce on it. I’ve been wanting a sewing machine for many, many years, and this one is a high end personal model, so it’s a good one for me to learn on. I have no idea how to even turn one on, but I’m sure I’ll figure it out. I figured out how to use a computer when I was in college (I never even used one growing up), and I figured out the features on my “it does everything” cell phone, so I’m guessing I can figure this out, too. I sew by hand, and I’m pretty good at it, but it sure does take a long time. My Ren Faire cloak took eight hours straight, and there’s not even any fancy patterns on it!

As some of you know, Ron and I have some wooded acres downstate we see as our someday home. The location is more than ideal for a homestead, and with all the camping gear we’ve amassed over the years, we joke if Teh Zombie Apocalypse comes (oh noez!), we can more than make due living on the land. We’ve confirmed there are indeed no building permits or regulations on our property (it’s rural within rural), the taxes are only a couple hundred a year, and it’s right on a newly paved county highway, so it’s all good – just waiting for us to “get our shit together”. Ron spent many summers on his grandparents’ farm in upstate New York, so he has some solid homesteading skills, and he’s good on some carpentry and plumbing (having worked both trades in the past), and I’ve been slowly learning many of my own. Getting the sewing machine I feel will enhance our self-sufficiency that much more, but there’s still so much to learn. My mom has ten green thumbs, so I know at least some of that has passed onto me, but I can’t grow anything in this apartment. I guess I’ll eventually figure that out when the time comes as well.

More than anything, it’s about now when I reflect on all the possibilities available to me. I grow restless during the dark half of the year, wishing I could be doing more than I am. It doesn’t help I live right next to an expressway, where I can hear the sounds of the open road when the TV is off, all but begging for me to jump in the car and drive… go someplace natural and just be. Some of you know about the camping book I’ve written, which took me almost a decade to put together. Almost all of it was written in wintertime while bundled up in sweaters and warm socks, reflecting on all the things I’ve learned in the summers’ past. Do you also grow restless in winter, especially after the holidays are over? Perhaps on your gift list, you too can request something that will enhance your skills (or grab yourself a deal like I did), even if you’re like us and live in a big city apartment. You can cook more meals from scratch, grow (some) of your own food, make repairs – but like any laborer will tell you, you need the right tools for the right jobs.

In an uncertain economy, investing in ourselves is a no-brainer, and going Old School DIY tends to make the Earth breathe a little easier. I was able to wrap up my gift-buying yesterday thanks to an online friend who said to narrow down the list in this way:

Something they want,
Something they need,
Something they’ll wear,
Something they’ll read.

To me, the “something they’ll wear” part is the tricky one, as I hate buying clothes for people. But it doesn’t have to be clothes, as jewelry, makeup, outerwear, and yes – underwear – all fall nicely into that category and can double up in the “want” and “need” departments, too. Ron, for example, needs more thermal underwear tops, and he requested them, so Bam! Done! For our troops, sending gifts can be hard, as we want to make sure what we’re sending aren’t cutesy baubles that cannot be used or appreciated, and with the expectation so many are coming home for the holidays (*YAY!*), that care package can seem that much harder to pack. That’s why I’m so happy our good friend Cara Schulz wrote a two-part article on gift-giving, and a feature includes a section just for our military. Remember, it takes up to a couple weeks for even a Priority box to reach its destination, so get your gifts shipped out right away!

And now onto Couponing News!

November was another great month for our Clip for the Troops campaign, and I would therefore like to thank Denver, CO and Addison, IL for their generosity – and a VERY special THANK YOU! to the folks providing coupons to Addison via a retirement community. As I stated, I’ve been extremely busy this entire week, so I have not had the chance to get a final count. I will have that wrapped up in the next couple of days, which I will post the total on the Facebook page and of course here in a comment field. I will say though, thanks to that retirement community especially, I have a canvas bag almost completely filled with coupons, so I have a sneaking suspicion we’ll be hitting $9000 for November!

For sure, it’s our biggest pile ever (that may not fit the coffee table any longer!), and we continue to grow, so I’d once again like to ask if anyone local has some extra time on their hands to please offer to stop by help me sort after the holidays for December’s haul. We got something special going on here, something our national community can be a part of that only takes a little time and a postage stamp to do, so please spread the word to your friends and family. Even without November’s count, we’ve already exceeded over $20,000 raised, based on my spreadsheet, and our list of installations continues to grow. That list now includes:

Alconbury, United Kingdom
Bamburg, Germany
Gaeta, Italy
Illesheim, Germany
Incirlik, Turkey
Sasebo, Japan
Wiesbaden, Germany

My hope is to have every overseas housing installation tapped by this time next year, alternating as they request (and can handle!). Many people may not be aware, but military families struggle just to put food on the table, many of whom are food stamp and food pantry recipients. Some folks think the military covers everything a family needs, due to housing, free medical care and tax-free shopping that’s only about 5% above wholesale – which yes, they get some good deals there. But when one considers, for example, an Army Sergeant only makes about $25k a year and the spouse has a hard time finding a job (who wants to hire someone who will pack up and leave on a whim?), that money doesn’t go very far – especially when children are involved. So yeah… they really do need help!

Therefore, please continue to send the coupons, Like! us on Facebook and share articles – let’s get the message out! Here’s the address again:

PNC Military – Clip for the Troops
Attn: Lori Dake
PO Box 306
Chicago, IL 60690-0306
United States

And if you wouldn’t mind, feel free to toss in a buck to help cover the postage. Each packet costs $4.95 to ship, so a little help there would be awesome.

Thanks again for your love, support and generosity, and I’ll be back next week with more updates! Take care!

And a Happy Thanksgiving to you all!

family, military, Paganism, veterans 1 Response »

Nov 192011

Good morning everyone, and Happy Saturday once again. So, for those of you doing the cooking Thursday, have you gotten your shopping done yet? No?! Well, you better get dressed and head down to the store ASAP! The shelf clearers are out in full force, taking every last can of cranberry sauce for their 2012 survivalist stockpiles or whatever. Trust me on this – I’ve been doing dinners large and small since I was a kid, with and without any help at all, and I have knocked this holiday down to a science just so I personally am not stressed out on the big day. And because I know many of you are young families who may be doing this for the first time, allow me to post a few of my tips, some of which are veganized:

Oh my yes! Decorating day!

Think like a caterer planning for a banquet: Clean out the fridge and freezer well, chucking anything “forgotten” to make room where you can. Do your shopping, alone, with a detailed list and coupons in hand, only buying Thanksgiving food. (My trip Thursday saved us at least a good $75, and that included beer!) Plan every step, from the cooking, to the cleaning, to the decorating, to the guest list, and see where you can do prep work ahead of time. I do my Yule decorating now, again to save time, as well as to add magick to our home. My star wreath on the door is the first signal our guests have they’re in for a real treat!

Buy your fresh items (veggies, dairy, eggs, etc.) only a few days ahead at a fruit market for extra savings, which will also save space in your fridge and of course will help avoid wilting. A couple days ahead, you can cut up your carrot and celery sticks, then submerge them in water stored in the fridge. That will keep them crisp and cut down on your Thanksgiving morning work. And when you’re cooking that morning, do the bulk of it in your jammies (so you’re comfortable) but with your hair tied back. No one wants to find a loose strand mixed in with the stuffing! Ewwww!

Brine, grease up and rub your bird: (This, of course, if for those of us who have plans serving turkey.) After completely thawing the frozen bird, remove the gizzard bag before stuffing it (so many forget to do this!) and then brine it the night before. Besides using a cooking bag, this also creates a moist turkey. Grease him up with olive oil (I say him, as they’re usually Toms) and rub him with some sage, lavender and a couple drops of primrose essential oil. 65% of Thanksgiving dinners result in arguments, so you want to add some love and magick to your food! Then, feed it into the lightly floured cooking bag (Read on for that).

Use a cooking bag: My dad taught me this, and I will readily admit he was right; no basting required, freeing me up to do my million other things. However, if you want a golden brown, crispy skin and avoid a mushy, gelatinous mess on the bottom, take the instructions that come with the bag a few steps beyond. You need to place the bird on a rack a good inch above the bottom of the pan (a $1 aluminum one will work just fine) and add a couple pin pricks to the bottom of the bag. This way, you will drain just enough of the fat away from the bird while making it accessible for collecting your gravy starter if you like. Wash dishes every chance you get so you won’t have a mess to deal with later. It will keep you in motion, and it will save you from running out of bowls and such you will need to serve with later. (I love my oven/microwave-safe glass bowls, because they’re multi-purpose, have never chipped or shattered even when dropped, come with lids for storage and pretty enough for serving. If you don’t have these, put these on your gift list!)

A half hour before it’s time to come out of the oven, cut off the top of the bag and oil it up again so you get your crispy skin. (The way the bag works is via convection and steaming, so you definitely want to do that.) And too, if you’re using an aluminum pan, put it on a cookie sheet so you can get it out of the oven without spilling grease all over the floor. (Yes, I did that one year, all looking like Jack Tripper sliding around and whatnot.) When it’s done, leave it sit on top of the stove a good half hour before transferring to your serving tray, removing the stuffing beforehand. No bacteria, please! (Refill the cavity with sprigs of fresh herbs if you wish.) Then, toss in your rolls and casserole while making your gravy. Easy peasy, and everything comes out at the same time!

Make the stuffing from scratch ahead of time: However, if you’re using sausage or eggs, hold off on adding those ingredients until right before. You don’t want to introduce food poisoning to your dinner! I have a recipe you can use, which is vegan and can be done the night before, in case you’re making dressing instead of stuffing. (Alton Brown isn’t all that keen on stuffing the bird.) The recipe is here. If you are adding roasted chestnuts, score them well before roasting. One year, I had a dangerous, messy series of explosions in the kitchen that sounded like gunfire and shot shrapnel everywhere, with resulting creamy goodness in my hair. (Go ahead, laugh at the sexual connotation. I did!)

Set the table the night before: The last thing you want to deal with while dripping in sweat is trying to remember where the forks go. This isn’t a problem for me, as we serve buffet style and eat on the couch in front of the TV, but we still rearrange furniture and whatnot. This is also why I do my Yule decorations this weekend; I want things all nice and pretty for when our guests arrive, and I want to enjoy my dinner, too! If you want a centerpiece, theme and frame it around the bird itself, perhaps with scented tea candles. It will save that precious real estate on your table for actual food and make the entree that much more delicious. (Remember, we taste more with our eyes and noses than our tongues!)

If you have been putting off on buying new dishes, they’re on sale now. We got a beautiful service for four yesterday for only $40, though there were classic, simple designs available for $25 at the discount Big Box store (the one with the “!” in the logo). Of course, if you’re having a lot of folks over, you’ll need more dishes. You can always go the paper plate route, but if you can afford it and have the time, a better idea is to stalk thrift stores for large service sets. Just be sure to check each piece for chips, and don’t be afraid to mix and match – just like you do with your wardrobe. I got a silverware set for twelve that way for about $10 – real silver, too!

Don’t bake a pie: What?! Oh no I didn’t! I’m not big on baking (I hate measuring cups and whatnot), so I buy the pie. You can ask a guest to bake one (in lieu of a bottle of wine?), or you can make or order it ahead of time. You see, skipping this one big step frees up my time with the thousand other things I have going on, and I think the bakery department at the supermarket does a good job and sells them for only a couple bucks. So many new cooks fret over the pie, and it’s been my experience over the years the pie becomes a sweet afterthought that gets woofed down instead of savored. Why? Because people are already in the shoveling-it-down mode and in a semi-coma, zombified state. I know, *sigh* – just tellin’ it like it is.

Take time for yourself by planning ahead: I’m not Wonder Woman, so I plan, plan and plan s’more. I prefer to keep people out of my kitchen as much as possible, but I do delegate a few responsibilities. After I cut off the top of the bag and throw the bird back in for its crispiness, I jump in the shower, do my hair and makeup, with my clothes already laid out. I have the guys stir for me at that point, as well as keep our guests amused. You can do this even earlier if you like, before guests arrive; you know your routine better than I do.

Don’t drink too much: Remember what I said about that 65%? Part of it is due to alcohol loosening tongues (the rest is due to actually being with family folks may otherwise avoid). If you don’t have too much liquor out, too much won’t be consumed – simple math there. (It’s kind of the same way I avoid putting on more pounds by not buying junk food to begin with.) And crazy Uncle Bob? He doesn’t need any help swinging into another bender. He can drink the cheap stuff while your good stuff is hiding – not that he would notice anyway.

Apply special consideration for your furry children: Our cat is downright MEAN to guests to where we have a warning sign outside our front door. No really, he’s extremely territorial and nothing is going to change that (not even the operation he had some years back). Let your guests know ahead of time you have animal companions, because some people have extreme allergies. (I’m allergic to cats even at the cleanest of homes believe it or not, except ours, as I have developed a tolerance to his dander.) Whenever we have guests coming over, we set up his food, toys and litter box in a bedroom for the day and check in on him from time to time. If you have dogs that jump on people, at least have someone hold them back when answering the door and allow gentle introductions; claws and delicate clothing don’t mix. And yes, part of your home prep should include defurring the couches or covering them with throws.

So that’s my list of tips and tricks for making your Thanksgiving a good one; I hope it helps! Now as far as news-type stuff goes, I wanted to point out Circle Sanctuary is now collecting for their annual drive, Operation: Circle Care. For five years now, Circle has been sending out care packages for our Warriors so they may practice their faith more fully. If you don’t have any items to send, please consider dropping a donation to help with the mail. Their goal is to reach everyone who asks, which I’m sure you can imagine is a monumental goal. And don’t forget to tune in every Tuesday for Pagan Warrior Radio! (If you miss it live, you can always check out the archives.)

I also wanted to take time out to link to a wonderful article series submitted by my good friend and PNC contributor Cara Schulz. Reading articles like this inspires hope that the military world is indeed becoming much more tolerant and open to new and different ways of thinking and believing. I know when Ryan was down at “The John Wayne School for Boys” (as I’ve heard it dubbed), I didn’t get a tolerant vibe at all, which, as you may have read, had me go into Secret Squirrel mode when conversing with the other moms and personnel online. So after reading Cara’s wonderful articles and talking to her about her son’s experience over the past year, it has me thinking Ryan’s second time around will be a much better go at it.

And last but certainly not least, our campaign, Clip for the Troops, is growing by the day! I have a TON of coupons to go through on my desk, which I need to do before any decorating occurs (much to the dismay of our cat, who is so looking forward to destroying our ornaments [see above]). We also have a ton of laundry we’re busting on now, before I can even get on the coupons. So needless to say, I have already reserved this weekend to nothing but couponing, decorating and prepping. In other words, I am not available this weekend for chatting or surfing around. Sorry! But, I did want to remind everyone those food coupons are out there, especially online, even if tomorrow’s paper will only have one measly insert due to the upcoming holiday.

So as always, send your unwanted manufacturer coupons my way, and I’ll get them out to the military families overseas who could really use them. Mail them to:

PNC Military
Attn: Lori Dake
PO Box 306
Chicago, IL 60690-0306
United States

And if you can, toss in a buck or something to help with the postage; I’d really appreciate it!

Thanks again for all your help. And if you know of another Pagan military campaign or charity, feel free to let me know. I’d love to help get the word out!

Take care and have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Adopt the Troops for Thanksgiving

family, military, Paganism, veterans 2 Responses »

Nov 122011

Good morning everyone, and Happy Saturday once again. And Brrrr! it’s cold out there! All week long, I’ve been making oatmeal for breakfast instead of a granola bar or a bowl of cold cereal, trying to make sure I was warm enough on the inside before venturing out. Of course, in a couple weeks, I’m sure I’ll be wondering what I was complaining about when 35-40F seems like the tropics. When my friend moved here from Spokane some years ago (who I’ll be hanging out with later today), I warned her about winters in Chicago, that standing in the dark on an elevated, exposed train platform will grow hair on your chest. (And it will too, due to evolution!) I’ve never been a fan of our winters, and I’m a native with a natural hard-voweled accent to back it up. (Think Dennis Farina here, not the SNL “Da Bears” skits.) As my friend calls it, I’m preparing for the “rip your face off!” wind chills and a predicted mega blizzard; at least I get to be in a warm car and not on that aforementioned platform.

But, I am a big fan of the holidays, so the colder weather signals fun times ahead, even if, against my best intentions, we spend a little more than our budget allows and gain a few extra pounds. I’m not a Black Friday shopper – we did that one time and never will again. Seeing a small child get run over by a shopping cart and and then not even getting the advertised flat screen – the only thing we went for – told us right there and then the frenzy really stretches on the Black and is not something we want to be a part of. There will probably be a couple video games under the tree, I’ve been hinting about a gun metal watch that looks like a coiled snake bracelet, and I’ve been trying to score a set of tickets for the big Pink Floyd concert next summer, but we’re not big on presents. That’s for what we call Giftmas, with Yule being what all the decorating is about. Next weekend, I’ll be busy decorating, which I do it at that time so my Thanksgiving is as bountiful and as easy peasy as possible. I spread out the work like caterers do, so that on that Thursday morning, I’m not stuck in the kitchen all day and exhausted, or worse, going instant on damned near everything and serving a bunch of flavorless, food-like substances. (Instant mashed potatoes? Ewwwww! Even small children can make the real stuff, using a hand/stand mixer instead of a masher like many restaurants do. And you get the skins in there on top of it!)

So, with the holidays ahead, what plans have you already made? Have you been stocking up your cupboards, scoring the sales? Confirming your guests? Rearranging furniture? Decorating? At this time of year, there are so many people who would be elated to have a traditional meal, and not just the homeless paraded on the news. Many of us have friends who have nowhere to go. They may have no families, or their families disowned them, or they just live too far away. Several of the dinners I’ve put together over the years have been “Misfit Thanksgivings”, inviting our friends over who would otherwise be alone. We have a small family of three, and I always cook way too much, so why not? Thanksgiving is supposed to be a happy gathering of sharing our bounty and our love with others. We don’t have a dining room, or even a dining room table, but with a little creativity, we can handle about ten people here and go buffet style.

Can you handle an extra guest or two? If you are willing to open your home to someone you don’t know (I know that’s kind of a scary notion) and live near a military installation, you can call and ask about inviting those who can’t afford to travel or have no families to visit. There isn’t (yet?) a national system like this, but the idea is growing. The nearest one to us is Great Lakes Naval Base about 45 minutes north of Chicago, and I’ve read around they’ve matched families to sailors for just that purpose. It would be a wonderful way to genuinely thank them for their service, and it doesn’t doesn’t really cost you anything or take time out of your day. It’s certainly a much better alternative for them than sitting alone in the barracks. Sure, DFAC serves up a nice spread, but it just isn’t the same as relaxing on the couch with a second helping while watching the tube and sharing stories. Besides, who couldn’t stand to make a new friend?

As a side bonus for us, since meal sharing is communal and many wars have been settled over good food and drink, it’s another easy way to show the rest of the world we Pagans are pretty normal people. And what’s more, these young men and women aren’t going to bring issues to the table. You know what I’m talking about: Crazy Uncle Bob on another bender (who’s only entertaining for the first thirty minutes), your guilt-tripping Aunt Gertie who whines and hates everything, your brother-in-law Tim who found Jesus (in the sofa cushions?) and preaches the gospel of Hannity, or your holier-than-thou Cousin Bradley, who just earned his second doctorate while saving the world in some third-world country (and you know this, because he’s mentioned his great accomplishments at least ten times within the first hour). If anything, you’ll at least have someone interesting to talk to who showed up by choice and not out of a feeling of obligation.

Just thought I’d pop another idea into your heads there. I was thinking about that all day yesterday, and so I searched around looking for a group that’s already doing just that. Nothing on the notion seems to be firm, but it really should be. I remember reading an article a year or two ago about a bunch of stranded passengers trapped at O’Hare for several days, and folks in nearby suburbs were posting Craig’s List notices about picking these trapped souls up at the airport and letting them crash on their couches or even opening up the guest rooms. If folks can do that for complete strangers at the airport, certainly they can share a single, bountiful meal with those who help us all sleep better at night.

And now onto couponing news!

Well folks, I’m busy as ever with all the coupons coming in for the Clip for the Troops! campaign, and the Gods have blessed me with a little help in the way of time. My Friday schedule at the day job has been switched to starting and staying a little later, which is fine by me. You see, I’m one of those crazy early birds up before dawn even on the weekends, so when the guys left for work yesterday morning, I had the place to myself for a couple hours – nice and quiet, with no distractions. Not only was I able to get some sorting done from last week’s bounty (I require that for crunching numbers!), but it’s why I was also able to do a quick post yesterday for Veteran’s Day and say a couple hellos on Teh Faceypagez. I asked for help, They provided, and I’m very grateful for it. And, I got home just in time to catch the premiere episode of Pagan Warrior Radio. Very cool!

Now tomorrow, there will be three inserts, including a special one from General Mills. (Who couldn’t stand to stock up on cereal?) One of the features that caught my eye was the canned veggies. Now I’m not a fan of the canned stuff over fresh or even frozen (canned peas? Ewwwww! Slimy!), except when it comes to corn. Canned corn, for some reason, ain’t that bad, with some brands (like the kind at Trader Joe’s) tasting better than the frozen kernel variety, as it tends to get on the mushy side when cooked. And, for those of you who do a little extra shopping for food pantries, canned veggies are certainly better to donate than no veggies at all.

So yes, the food coupons are back in full force, so if ever you’ve wanted to get in on the couponing craze, now’s the time. And while you’re getting all clip-happy, send your discards and expired ones to my attention. We have quite a few overseas installations on our adoption list these days, and it’s getting bigger every. single. month! Send your unwanted manufacturer coupons to:

PNC Military – Clip for the Troops
Attn: Lori Dake
PO Box 306
Chicago, IL 60690-0306
United States

The postage is getting a little expensive, so feel free to drop a buck in the mix to help with that. Each packet costs me $4.95 to mail, and for October, I sent out five. By the way things are going, I’m counting on at least six for November, if not more! And as always, THANK YOU for your help!

Welp, I gotta jump in the shower before my friend stops by. We’re going to visit a local toy store for some prezzie shopping and probably grab some falafel for lunch. Mmm… falafel! Which begs to question: Can I use falafel in the stuffing instead of corn meal? I saw a recipe that calls for White Castles (sans condiments of course), so I guess anything goes these days!

Take care!

PS. Yes. Seriously. White friggin Castles in Thanksgiving stuffing.

Thank you vets!

military, Paganism, veterans 3 Responses »

Nov 112011

Good morning everyone! Just a quick note to say THANK YOU to everyone who is or has served. I know it sounds like lip service these days, especially when Veterans Day is combined with mattress sales, but from me, I really do mean it. Anyone who helps me sleep better at night deserves at least a thanks! Don’t forget to get your freebies if you’re out and about, including free meals at Applebee’s and Texas Roadhouse, and be sure to tune in to the premiere episode of Pagan Warrior Radio hosted by Selena Fox of Circle Sanctuary. (CS does a great deal of outreach work for military, including these beautiful prayer cards).

I’ll be back tomorrow morning with a full article for you all. Gotta run!

Thanks again and take care!

Wicca jeopardizes a security clearance?

family, military, Paganism, veterans 11 Responses »

Nov 052011

Good morning everyone and Happy Saturday once again! And ZOMG do I have some wonderful news to share with you this week! I’m eating my celebratory bowl of blueberry-ish kids’ cereal with a goofy ghost on the box while watching Anthony Hopkins exorcise a very pregnant Italian girl as I write, a little saddened the secular Halloween is over but extremely ecstatic for what the new year will bring. It’s been a pretty incredible week, that’s for sure. But before I get into the astoundingly wonderful, I want to open the discussion to something disturbing. Please allow me to continue…

The other day, I was following a link on Teh Faceypagez on my cell when I saw a comment posting that sadly did not garner the attention I felt it should. This poster stated he was warned by a senior NCO not to list Wicca in his religious information, as he would be potentially denied a security clearance. Seriously? WTF?! How could one’s choice of faith be an issue? I know those needing the clearance must have good credit reports, and I think that’s unfair because a credit report doesn’t necessarily reflect poor judgment or life choices. Having served as a paralegal for a large collections firm for seven years, I can attest that some debtors got into their situations due to no fault of their own – just bad luck, not judgment. Sometimes, shit just happens.

So going by what I know, I have to wonder and question how Wicca plays into a denial of a security clearance. Does being Wiccan reflect a person who makes poor life choices or make bad judgments? And if not, then what’s the reason – that Wiccans are just folks who have “shit happen” to them and are unfortunately lumped together with those who do make bad decisions? No, neither possible answer makes any sense, so I am only left with one other possible answer that seems more plausible and yet disgusts me – that there is indeed prejudice against openly practicing Wiccans in the military. Is this the case? And if so, I would like to maintain my hope and optimism that “it’s getting better”, based on the news article below:

Perform or provide: DADT repeal gives progressive chaplains a chance to counter evangelical clergy in the military

When a soldier recently came to Chaplain Chris Antal, a lieutenant in the Army National Guard in New York and a Unitarian Universalist minister, and asked if he’d pray with her even though she was a pagan, he said he replied, “Of course I will, but you’ll have to show me how.”

Several weeks later, when he saw her again, she told him that the day she had come to visit him, she had hit rock bottom. He had, she told him, saved her life that day.

But Antal said he was only doing his job — helping any soldier who comes to him.

“I’ve earned the nickname, the Catch-all Chaplain,” he said, explaining that it means he takes everyone the other chaplains don’t want to deal with…

This is exactly why I pay so much attention to issues in the military that aren’t directly Pagan in nature; fairness for one group of people is for the betterment of all. A recent poll shows seven out of ten Americans support allowing women to serve in ground combat, with people like me saying “Hey, if she can do it (it being physically able to drag a wounded Soldier from the front line), then why not?”. And the DADT repeal slogan was rather similar: The only thing a Soldier needs to do straight is shoot. And of course, a Pentacle is now a recognized symbol on military headstones.

We still have a long way to go as I’ve stated several times here on W&K. But, in my own lifetime, which isn’t all that long in the great scheme of things, I’ve seen some wonderful changes like those listed above, and that gives me hope. It maintains my optimism. It motivates me to do more. And naturally, it drives me to question other points of unfairness, whether or not I side with the majority – as in the case of the 99%ers. Bank Transfer Day, for example, is a good idea motivated by one person who raised a simple question if there is indeed another option to using a Big Bank (BofA, Chase, Wells Fargo, etc.), and these days, there is. People can use credit unions and get many of the same features Big Banks offer while keeping more of their own money. It’s a simple idea that is gaining a lot of momentum, and credit unions are of course delighted with the news. (Check out this credit union’s site: They’re embracing the movement on their front page.) It is because of this many military folks use USAA for the same reasons. Heck, I even know of some small business owners who use PayPal as their business bank, because seeking a loan is unnecessary. (Huh? Businesses don’t need loans? You mean they invest in themselves, using their own money for start-up, and only upgrade when they can actually afford to so, meaning the profits are truly their own? The hell you say!)

Questioning the status quo is a good thing, and I support anyone who does. I however do not support those who look down upon people who need to “tow the line”. Ugh – I hate elitists! I shop at Big Box stores, but I also visit the co-op when they have comparable prices. We tend to buy chemically-laden cleaning products, but when we came across a comparably priced green version that does as good of a cleaning job as the bald-headed genie in a too-tight white shirt, we made the switch. And when our Big Bank pissed Ron off for the last time (which used to be a local bank once upon a time), he moved over to a growing local bank that’s been around for ages that these days has many of the features he liked about the Big Bank.

Good ideas spread rapidly, and people who “are mad as hell” and who aren’t “going to take it anymore” tend to get those silently questioning things to speak up. So in the case of the security clearance thing, I’m questioning now what someone posted online, and I encourage more people to question it as well. Is this what’s indeed happening? Have you heard about this happening elsewhere? I would like to collect more instances so I have something to go on before posing the question with someone of authority.

And now onto couponing news!

It’s the first Saturday of the month, and that means a Clip for the Troops monthly report! I am proud to say we have collected over $8000 in coupons for the month of October! (The official count is $8,285.41, which took me until 11pm last night to add up.) Yah, Srsly! Here’s a pic!

October 2011 coupons

Isn’t that incredible! And this is thanks to our good friends in Addison, IL, Franklin, MD, Gardena, CA and Leadville, Co! I understand there is also a senior community in the western suburbs now participating as well. And let’s see, doesn’t that mean we get new adoptees as well? Why yes, yes it does! In fact, it actually gets better than that: We got two more thank-you letters with requests on where to ship coupons! Read on!

Thanks from Germany!

I also scanned a letter from the UK, which you can read that in PDF format at this location.

As you can see, we’re inundating them with coupons, which makes me giggle a bit. Germany provided me with two alternate addresses, which I’ll be using to swap out for them and the UK, which still keeps us at three. So I would like to welcome two new military installations – The U.S. Navy in Gaeta, Italy and the U.S. Air Force in Incirlik, Turkey! And like I said, with a senior group getting involved, we’re going to be covering every adoptable installation on the Base List very, very soon! (And now you see why I felt deserving of my Monster Cereal breakfast!)

This is starting to get a little expensive for me, not to mention taking up more and more of my time, so I’m not to shy or proud to say I NEED HELP! Is there anyone in the Chicagoland area who would like to stop by and help me sort, count and pack? I’ll make dinner, and everyone knows I’m an awesome cook. And, is there anyone out there who wouldn’t mind tossing in a buck to help me cover some of the postage? Each envelope costs me $4.95, and while I’m making decent money at my new job, I could still use a little help on that. So whatever you can do to help out would be very much appreciated!

Now tomorrow, there will be two inserts, including coupons for my herbal tea and K-cups for the fancy coffee maker at work. The food coupons will be coming out in full force very soon, so if you’ll be hosting Thanksgiving dinner this year, be sure to at least go online and print out some Q’s for yourself. (Do like I do and print them on the b/w setting, using scrap paper brought home from the office.) And remember, many grocery stores let you combine their in-store coupons with manufacturer coupons, on top of a sale price, making many items (nearly) free! Our ancestors stocked up for the harsh winters, so take a nod from them and do the same for your family.

And yes, here’s the address once again for you to send your unwanted/expired coupons for the campaign:

PNC Military
Attn: Lori Dake
PO Box 306
Chicago, IL 60690-0306
United States

Lately, I’ve only been checking the box on the last Saturday of the month, as I’ve been swamped with day to day stuff. I’m also not online nearly as much as I used to be, so I’m really hoping some folks will be willing to help me out throughout the month. It’s very hard for me to get downtown, since there’s no parking nearby (meaning I need someone to drive in circles while I go inside), and the hours are impossible to get down there during the week by riding on a train. So again, I implore you to consider helping out! This campaign’s dual purpose is to promote positive Pagan awareness while helping military families overseas help themselves with their meager budgets, so it’s a good thing for everyone all around, and it’s very easy to do – just time-consuming.

Thanks again everyone for making the campaign such a quick success! I’m looking forward to one day posing for a pic swimming in coupons like the promo for the Extreme Couponing show! And yes, please – if you are aware of the security clearance situation, please share! You may contact me in private if you like at doom diva (at) yah oo (dot) com. Take care!

Blessed Samhain!

family, military, Paganism, veterans No Responses »

Oct 292011

Just finished carving and thought I'd include it in today's post!

Good morning everyone, and Happy Saturday once again! And oh my yes, a very blessed Samhain and a freakishly good Halloween to one and all! So how are you celebrating the Big Day? For us, nothing too grand or fantastic this year for Halloween, as just don’t have the energy to party. But come Monday night, I do plan on doing a special service for Samhain. Y’know, I love it when October 31st falls on a weekday for a couple reasons:

1) I can get away with wearing a costume at work.
2) The secular party night is separated from the holy night.

What? I want to work on Samhain? But I’m a very open Witch and have been so for many years? Shouldn’t I be demanding the day off for religious observance? Naaah, I work all the sabbats and esbats, saving what few days off I can muster for festival-going and family vacationing. I have good faith the Gods know my intentions, that by being a hard-working mom and an all-around good person in the everyday, combined with dedicated space in our home, I don’t require special days off. Besides, I have so many Holy days (where the word “holiday” comes from), I’d be off a solid month just for them. And that’s before all the recognized days off like Memorial Day, Thanksgiving and the 4th of July. Yes, I could trade in Yule for Christmas and Ostara for Easter, but I like the secularized versions, so why not have the best of both worlds?

I believe I’ve mentioned before about the year Samhain fell on a very important day at work back when I was a paralegal, and how I dressed up in full costume while standing before the judges in their chambers and in open court. (Only “Night Court” ever touched on that notion; “Law & Order” and all its seriousness wouldn’t have it!) I got a few raised eyebrows out of the deal, but mostly (hidden) smiles. I made people happy! Of course, it shadowed the year my family was featured in the newspaper, which was somewhat awkward but liberating at the same time. (Was that really nine years ago? Look at how young Ryan is!) So when the jokes flew my way from the attorney I worked under, I reminded him very well I could have requested the day off for religious observance.

Oh noez! Not that! Not being around for Court Day meant I had better be calling in dead, because nothing was more important than me being at his side on Court Day. So in my own way, I positively promoted Paganism just by letting people know there is such a thing, I made it seem fun and cool – just different – and the people who believe similar in ways I do aren’t all that rare and unusual after all. I have met and spoken with many Pagans of different flavors who are educators, police officers, legal and health professionals, white- and blue-collared workers, successful entrepreneurs, students, plenty of parents and caregivers, politicians and community organizers, and yes, active and veteran military personnel as well. We really are you! We’re just a little bit different is all. No biggie.

So my question for you military folk this week is beyond the “How will you be celebrating Samhain?” standby, but more specifically, what does this Holy day mean to you? I’m sure there will be some partying and trick-or-treating going on, and I know our troops love distributing candy to children (perhaps via the Operation Gratitude campaign), but I’m really curious how you celebrate the Holy part of the holiday. Do you have a Circle? Do you set up an altar? If you don’t, would you if you had more altar supplies? Do you have a Dumb Supper? If so, what do you have? I’d love to learn more, as I’m sure many readers would as well.

And now onto couponing news!

Earlier this week, one of our regular contributors told me she filled in a senior group on our campaign, and they have collected over $2000 worth of coupons! ZOMG! Seriously! I have a nice manila pack myself, and Ron and I are heading downtown to the post office box after I fire this article off, so we definitely secured our three adoption quotas this month – if not for a new fourth! (Any suggestions?) Remember, I try to get about $1500 worth for each packet, and the main reason is that’s about the max I can fill in a Priority envelope. Instead of bumping up to a larger package, I think it’s better we spread the wealth to more installations. Needless to say, I have my work cut out for me so I can have the final count for you all next Saturday.

So yes, we are definitely growing! And I’d like to see more campaigns like this blossom to help our troops and to promote positive Pagan awareness at the same time. After Samhain is Yule, which is a great time to collect altar items and books for the many Pagan military care package campaigns out there. I know I have a few books I can give, which can be sent rather inexpensively via media mail. How about you?

Well, that’s about it for me this week. Let me help finish up a bit of housework while jamming to some old Screeching Weasel before we head downtown and then back home to start on the counting and sorting. Tomorrow’s paper will have three inserts, so that will help bulk up the monthly count as well. And, with Thanksgiving now just a few weeks away, we can count on there being quite a few food coupons showing up – always a good thing!

Take care everyone, and yes, a very blessed Samhain to you all.

Older Entries Newer Entries

So what’s new for 2012?

And a Happy 2012!

Have a Cool Yule!

Bearded Rabbi is Latest Army Chaplain, Remains Dumped in Landfill and Incredible Couponing News!

Practical Magick in Gift Form

And a Happy Thanksgiving to you all!

Adopt the Troops for Thanksgiving

Thank you vets!

Wicca jeopardizes a security clearance?

Blessed Samhain!

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