My Blog

Thankful

temptress_deborah — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 02:36:54 GMT

When we count our many blessings; it isn't hard to see that life's most valued treasures are the treasures that are free. For it isn't what we own or buy that signifies our wealth. It's the special gifts that have no price; our family, friends and health. ~~ Author Unknown ~~ Thank you to all who have and continue to bless me with their friendship, love and laughter. I am truly blessed and feel loved more than words can capture. Thank you for being you and for giving me the opportunity to welcome you into my heart and visa versa. My heart runith over ... xoxo

Obama and the Palin Effect

temptress_deborah — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 05:33:03 GMT

Deepak Chopra <http://www.intentblog.com/author.php?author=Deepak%20Chopra> - September 04, 2008 Sometimes politics has the uncanny effect of mirroring the national psyche even when nobody intended to do that. This is perfectly illustrated by the rousing effect that Gov. Sarah Palin had on the Republican convention in Minneapolis this week. On the surface, she outdoes former Vice President Dan Quayle as an unlikely choice, given her negligent parochial expertise in the complex affairs of governing. Her state of Alaska has less than 700,000 residents, which reduces the job of governor to the scale of running one-tenth of New York City. By comparison, Rudy Giuliani is a towering international figure. Palin's pluck has been admired, and her forthrightness, but her real appeal goes deeper. She is the reverse of Barack Obama, in essence his shadow, deriding his idealism and exhorting people to obey their worst impulses . In psychological terms the shadow is that part of the psyche that hides out of sight, countering our aspirations, virtue, and vision with qualities we are ashamed to face: anger, fear, revenge, violence, selfishness, and suspicion of 'the other.' For millions of Americans, Obama triggers those feelings, but they don't want to express them. He is calling for us to reach for our higher selves, and frankly, that stirs up hidden reactions of an unsavory kind. (Just to be perfectly clear, I am not making a verbal play out of the fact that Sen. Obama is black. The shadow is a metaphor widely in use before his arrival on the scene.) I recognize that psychological analysis of politics is usually not welcome by the public, but I believe such a perspective can be helpful here to understand Palin's message. In her acceptance speech Gov. Palin sent a rousing call to those who want to celebrate their resistance to change and a higher vision. Look at what she stands for: --Small town values -- a denial of America's global role, a return to petty, small-minded parochialism. --Ignorance of world affairs -- a repudiation of the need to repair America's image abroad. --Family values -- a code for walling out anybody who makes a claim for social justice. Such strangers, being outside the family, don't need to be heeded. --Rigid stands on guns and abortion -- a scornful repudiation that these issues can be negotiated with those who disagree. --Patriotism -- the usual fallback in a failed war. --'Reform' -- an italicized term, since in addition to cleaning out corruption and excessive spending, one also throws out anyone who doesn't fit your ideology. Palin reinforces the overall message of the reactionary right, which has been in play since 1980, that social justice is liberal-radical, that minorities and immigrants, being different from 'us' pure American types, can be ignored, that progressivism takes too much effort and globalism is a foreign threat. The radical right marches under the banners of 'I'm all right, Jack,' and 'Why change? Everything's OK as it is.' The irony, of course, is that Gov. Palin is a woman and a reactionary at the same time. She can add mom to apple pie on her resume, while blithely reversing forty years of feminist progress. The irony is superficial; there are millions of women who stand on the side of conservatism, however obviously they are voting against their own good. The Republicans have won multiple national elections by raising shadow issues based on fear, rejection, hostility to change, and narrow-mindedness. Obama's call for higher ideals in politics can't be seen in a vacuum. The shadow is real; it was bound to respond. Not just conservatives possess a shadow -- we all do. So what comes next is a contest between the two forces of progress and inertia. Will the shadow win again, or has its furtive appeal become exhausted? No one can predict. The best thing about Gov. Palin is that she brought this conflict to light, which makes the upcoming debate honest. It would be a shame to elect another Reagan, whose smiling persona was a stalking horse for the reactionary forces that have brought us to the demoralized state we are in. We deserve to see what we are getting, without disguise.

Palin comments by Eve Ensler

temptress_deborah — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 05:26:24 GMT

Too good not to share ... thanks TJ :) xoxo Eve Ensler, the American playwright, performer, feminist and activist, best known for 'The Vagina Monologues', wrote the following about Sarah Palin: DRILL, DRILL, DRILL I am having Sarah Palin nightmares. I dreamt last night that she was a member of a club where they rode snowmobiles and wore the claws of drowned and starved polar bears around their necks. I have a particular thing for Polar Bears. Maybe it's their snowy whiteness or their bigness or the fact that they live in the arctic or that I have never seen one in person or touched one. Maybe it is the fact that they live so comfortably on ice. Whatever it is, I need the polar bears. I don't like raging at women. I am a Feminist and have spent my life trying to build community, help empower women and stop violence against them. It is hard to write about Sarah Palin. This is why the Sarah Palin choice was all the more insidious and cynical. The people who made this choice count on the goodness and solidarity of Feminists. But everything Sarah Palin believes in and practices is antithetical to Feminism which for me is part of one story -- connected to saving the earth, ending racism, empowering women, giving young girls options, opening our minds, deepening tolerance, and ending violence and war. I believe that the McCain/Palin ticket is one of the most dangerous choices of my lifetime, and should this country choose those candidates the fall-out may be so great, the destruction so vast in so many areas that America may never recover. But what is equally disturbing is the impact that duo would have on the rest of the world. Unfortunately, this is not a joke. In my lifetime I have seen the clownish, the inept, the bizarre be elected to the presidency with regularity. Sarah Palin does not believe in evolution. I take this as a metaphor. In her world and the world of Fundamentalists nothing changes or gets better or evolves. She does not believe in global warming. The melting of the arctic, the storms that are destroying our cities, the pollution and rise of cancers, are all part of God's plan. She is fighting to take the polar bears off the endangered species list. The earth, in Palin's view, is here to be taken and plundered. The wolves and the bears are here to be shot and plundered. The oil is here to be taken and plundered. Iraq is here to be taken and plundered. As she said herself of the Iraqi war, 'It was a task from God.' Sarah Palin does not believe in abortion. She does not believe women who are raped and incested and ripped open against their will should have a right to determine whether they have their rapist's baby or not. She obviously does not believe in sex education or birth control. I imagine her daughter was practicing abstinence and we know how many babies that makes. Sarah Palin does not much believe in thinking. From what I gather she has tried to ban books from the library, has a tendency to dispense with people who think independently. She cannot tolerate an environment of ambiguity and difference. This is a woman who could and might very well be the next president of the United States. She would govern one of the most diverse populations on the earth. Sarah believes in guns. She has her own custom Austrian hunting rifle. She has been known to kill 40 caribou at a clip. She has shot hundreds of wolves from the air. Sarah believes in God. That is of course her right, her private right. But when God and Guns come together in the public sector, when war is declared in God's name, when the rights of women are denied in his name, that is the end of separation of church and state and the undoing of everything America has ever tried to be. I write to my sisters. I write because I believe we hold this election in our hands. This vote is a vote that will determine the future not just of the U.S., but of the planet. It will determine whether we create policies to save the earth or make it forever uninhabitable for humans. It will determine whether we move towards dialogue and diplomacy in the world or whether we escalate violence through invasion, undermining and attack. It will determine whether we go for oil, strip mining, coal burning or invest our money in alternatives that will free us from dependency and destruction. It will determine if money gets spent on education and healthcare or whether we build more and more methods of killing. It will determine whether America is a free open tolerant society or a closed place of fear, fundamentalism and aggression. If the Polar Bears don't move you to go and do everything in your power to get Obama elected, then consider the chant that filled the hall after Palin spoke at the RNC, 'Drill Drill Drill.' I think of teeth when I think of drills. I think of rape. I think of destruction. I think of domination. I think of military exercises that force mindless repetition, emptying the brain of analysis, doubt, ambiguity or dissent. I think of pain. Do we want a future of drilling? More holes in the ozone, in the floor of the sea, more holes in our thinking, in the trust between nations and peoples, more holes in the fabric of this precious thing we call life? Eve Ensler September 5, 2008

Love and appreciate all the women in your life

temptress_deborah — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 19:24:21 GMT

Whatever you give a woman, she's going to multiply. If you give her sperm, she'll give you a baby. If you give her a house, she'll give you a home. If you give her groceries, she'll give you a meal. If you give her a smile ... she'll give you her heart. She multiplies and enlarges what is given to her. So - if you give her crap, you will receive more shit than any one human being can handle. Love and appreciate all the women in your life. Thanks for sharing this with me Ailleagan :) xoxo

The true meaning of girl power

temptress_deborah — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 01:57:10 GMT

Time passes. Life happens. Distance separates. Children grow up. Jobs come and go. Love waxes and wanes. Men don't do what they're supposed to do. Hearts break. Parents die. Colleagues forget favors. Careers end. BUT......... Sisters are there, no matter how much time and how many miles are between you. A girl friend is never farther away than needing her can reach. When you have to walk that lonesome valley and you have to walk it by yourself, the women in your life will be on the valley's rim, cheering you on, praying for you, pulling for you, intervening on your behalf, and waiting with open arms at the valley's end. Sometimes, they will even break the rules and walk beside you ... or come in and carry you out. Girlfriends, daughters, granddaughters, daughters-in-law, sisters, sisters-in-law, Mothers, Grandmothers, aunts, nieces, cousins, and extended family, all bless our life! The world wouldn't be the same without women, and neither would I. When we began this adventure called womanhood, we had no idea of the incredible joys or sorrows that lay ahead. Nor did we know how much we would need each other. Every day, we need each other still.

The Time Has Come to Say Farewell

temptress_deborah — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 23:54:43 GMT

The lovely, talented and ever so fabulous Ailleagan has decided to step down as moderator of the Temptress's Boobiedom Spankatorium tribe, so I've decided the time has come to close the tribe for good. She was the generous person to surprise me with the tribe in the beginning and it doesn't feel the same having me be moderator ... to be honest it always felt odd/silly having a tribe just for lil ol' me ... so the time has come to say farewell. Thank you Ailleagan for being so wonderful and surprising me with such a fabulous gift. Thank you everyone who has joined the tribe and made the conversations and banter so much fun to enjoy. I wish you all my very best and please keep in touch. Smiles, hugs, blessings and laughter, Temptress

The Brain - Two Hemisphere's Story

temptress_deborah — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 07:25:50 GMT

Being the daughter of someone who had numerous strokes which eventually took my father’s life and now being a person on the path to become a nurse, I found this video to be amazing. It is moving, profound and beautiful ... and yes brought me to tears. It's only 18 minutes long so please take a break in your busy day to watch it. Dr. Taylor recounts the details of her stroke and the amazing insights she gained. Her fascinating lecture includes a detailed explanation of the differences between the left and right sides of the brain, complete with an incredibly cool prop — a real human brain. As a Harvard-trained neuroanatomist, Jill Bolte Taylor has always known more about brains than most people. But when a brain hemorrhage triggered her own stroke, she suddenly had a front-row seat on the deterioration of the brain. http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/03/13/when-a-brain-scientist-suffers-a-stroke/ All my best to each of you … love, hugs, smiles & blessings

34 'tis around the corner

temptress_deborah — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 07:30:47 GMT

All sorts of wonderful music to enjoy this year, but here is a little bit of the upcoming birthday fun: Thur 4/17: Gravity Plan @ 930pm @ 4th Street Tavern in San Rafael Fri 4/18: Jon Korty & Friends @ 9pm @ Peri's in Fairfax Sat 4/19: Vinyl @ 830pm @ Rancho Nicasio http://bulletins.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=bulletin.read&messageID=5671295057&MyToken=890cecb0-c983-4730-97ff-e0bac4f39635&hash=MIG3BgorBgEEAYI3WAOqoIGoMIGlBgorBgEEAYI3WAMBoIGWMIGTAgMCAAECAmYDAgIAwAQIHK1IHsE9VdcEEIYEcpso2SSDMxTovrwmHzkEaM5PeeixyA7fLeCVZKtiq0SZGDwYek%2bpLX7%2fHod1Y8OD8FnFsagA%2fmv2U1ePLQu82oF3zD6S2XdmNJluBt9sddjVUlpbx4JHpzX1SaEj4eAThpUJtwGFQqUIyFn%2fELJ95Dr5GfPq0Fh%2f

10 years today

temptress_deborah — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 19:50:02 GMT

10 years ago today my father passed. I feel thankful for the time we shared together and that I never took a moment for granted and always let him know how much I loved & admired him. He lived each day with such strength and passion. He was passionate about helping others. He loved to create comfort and nourishment through food – the motto in our home was food is love and he truly expressed this. He had voracity for learning. He was always reading and learning and trying to better his mind and expand his horizons. He had strength of character like the strongest of mountains. A long time ago I learned that death is not the end to what we know and love, that even with loss there can be blessings. Life is precious in so many ways. Rumi wrote: "Love is from the infinite, and will remain until eternity. The seeker of love escapes the chains of birth and death. Tomorrow, when resurrection comes, the heart that is not in love will fail the test." Love is the one factor that can resist the ravages of time. Love can withstand the strongest of storms. Love can endure the pain of loss and death. Each person expresses love in their own unique way: some with affection and constant reassuring (like my mother), some with firmness, inspiring for you to reach higher levels of yourself (like my father). However you express love - just do it … express it. Don't let a day pass without letting those you love know it. Tomorrow will come, no matter what task or errand you did or did not complete, but how much richer tomorrow will be if you know you started it with love. A friend sent me this link today to put a smile on my face (http://video.stumbleupon.com/#p=ithct48cqw). Important, yet simple reminders to focus on what really counts in life. Life and love are the greatest gifts one can ever receive ... cherish them deeply ... live and love fully. xoxo

Holy shite

temptress_deborah — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 00:17:08 GMT

Next week is going to be insane (in a good way) ... so if you're along for the ride, drink your water, take your vitamins and get some rest beforehand 'cause youze aint gettin' a break during all the fun!!! :) xoxo

Time to geek out

temptress_deborah — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 20:58:49 GMT

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HuTc9-SMKX4&feature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3BRw_ihZRJI&feature=related (my fav) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7sG4j7I2W7s&feature=related ** Thanks for sharing Pimpy ** :)

Happy Vernal Equinox

temptress_deborah — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 17:09:34 GMT

Throughout history and in almost all cultures spring marks the beginning of many ceremonies and important rituals. Whatever you believe, wherever you come from, I hope this day marks the beginning of many beautiful new gifts and blessings for you. xoxo

Tuesday 3/18

temptress_deborah — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 23:57:24 GMT

Tuesday night around 10pm or so my lovely & talented friend Jess will be singing at open mic night at the Sweetwater Station in Larkspur ... so I better see your sweet asses there helping me cheer her on. :) xoxo March, 18 2008 Open Mic with Erin Hines & MC Holt Manchester Sweetwater Station 500 Magnolia Larkspur, CA 94939 Cost : no cover http://www. myspace. com/thesweetwatersaloon

St. Patty's Day

temptress_deborah — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 18:18:15 GMT

Here's where we'll all be on St. Patty's day. For those of you who asked what time, I'll be going down after class on Monday around 9pm or so. Hope to see you there! :) The Cabin / Dugout Bar 20 Veterans Pl San Anselmo, CA 94960 (415) 456-0834 http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=41090464

Sweetwater tonight (Thur 2/28)

temptress_deborah — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 18:31:37 GMT

Heather Combs Songwriters In The Round February 28, 2008 8pm Sweetwater (500 Magnolia, Larkspur) Heather Combs Popular Sweetwater Songwriters in the Round Series is back at Sweetwater Station . 4 songwriters in the round, 2 spontaneous sets, 1 great night. On the bill tonight: Heather Combs (http://www.heathercombs.com/) Samantha Murphy Amber Rubarth Courtney Janes Hope to see you there!!! :)

Unconditional love

temptress_deborah — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 20:30:18 GMT

We have all shared and received love at some point in our lives. But have any of us stopped to really explore our hearts and see if we are capable of unconditional love. The type of love that allows you to see past good and bad, past mistakes and annoyances and still fully love the person. Even more than that are you able to do what is necessary to help someone when they cannot help themselves ... doing the right thing often is the hardest thing. Love truly is the greatest gift we can ever share with another being. It is the most powerful and pure of all emotions and can affect a life like no other. Remember to stop and honor the moments in life where you are blessed with opportunities to share and express love with those who have carved a special place out in your heart. Be well ... blessings now and always - xoxo ******************************************************************************************** Unconditional Love To love or not to love–Have you ever wondered what unconditional love means? Does it really exist? Or is it just one of those words which you read in romance novels or self help books. Perhaps it’s purely a myth. To be loved is one of the greatest gifts of life and to love is an even greater gift. It’s sweeter to have loved than not to have loved at all, but often when we have been emotionally hurt in past relationships we are hesitant to open our hearts again in fear of being hurt again. Living in the present. There is a lot to be said of living in the present. Think about this well-known saying, “the past is history, the future is a mystery and the present is a gift, that’s why it’s called the Present.” It’s true isn’t it? If we relate our experiences to what happened to us in the past then our heart is not available to be open for new and exciting opportunities. If our consciousness is in the past or in the future wishing that we had something else or something different to what we have now then we may very well be missing out on the greatest gift of life, which could be right under our nose. You see it takes courage to live the life we have here and now. Angelic essence. An angelic essence is unconditional love in its truest form, which overcomes the hardest of battles. Sometimes our hardest times are our greatest blessings, we can not always see this when we are in the midst of chaos but as time goes on and we look back we can be grateful for what has happened. This is what I call an angelic essence of unconditional love. It is something that is learnt over time and takes an open heart and wisdom to give and receive. Unconditional Love. True unconditional love; is not seeing events, situations or people as good or bad. It’s our perception that colors our existence and how we feel about our life and the people who share our life. It’s good, it’s bad, we love them, and we hate them. What’s good for us may be bad for someone else? And what we perceived as being a sad time years ago may now be our greatest blessing. The challenge in life is to see the blessing straight-away and not wait years to see the beauty of our experiences, which make our life such a beautiful journey. Gratitude. To see the blessings in life is to be grateful for everything small and large that happens to us. To have gratitude for the people, events and situations in our life will help to lift our spirits, stay positive and more in control of our lives. This helps us to achieve our dreams, hopes and wishes in life while being more positive and productive. To have an attitude of gratitude can be the best thing you can ever do for yourself. (Unconditional Love - by Universal Psychic Guild)

Todd - Rest in peace

temptress_deborah — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 05:12:27 GMT

My dear friend Todd passed away. Some knew him as Todd but most affectionately known as Todd the Diver. He and I went on a few dates last year but decided we were better as friends and truly that was the case. He was mellow, down to earth, loving and good natured. We could laugh and be silly together and always had fun when we hung out. He recently met someone and got engaged and I was so happy for him as he finally seemed happy with his own life. He jumped in the water this past Friday, during the crazy storm, without any gear on to try and get a boat that broke away. They pulled him out 45 minutes later and he died of hypothermia. It is so tragic and words don't adequately express loss at times like these. My love, prayers and condolences goes out to his family during this tragic time of loss. I'll miss him dearly. http://www.marinij.com/marin/ci_7908523 http://www.myspace.com/toddthediver

Blessings in the new year

temptress_deborah — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 04:24:41 GMT

Legends say that hummingbirds float free of time Carrying our hopes of all things sublime Their delicate state reminds us life is splendid And that all things work out as they are intended Beauty is everywhere if we are bold enough to open our eyes Shared laughter and love the grandest prize May you live each day with joy and bliss And with happy heart always remember this Life is a gift like no other Share it with those you love – brother, sister, father, mother May you know peace and serenity Appreciating many days filled with harmony Time moves ever so fast So be diligent to make each moment last Wishing all the best this world has to offer and a new year full of magical moments.

Someone new

temptress_deborah — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 04:21:00 GMT

So is it goodbye? Is it time to set you free? Is it time to let it fly? Is it time to let it bleed We used to take turns To cover up the pain Deep below it burns And the fellin' still remains You're gonna find someone new I really hope you do 'Cause I love you And the sun will come on thru, It's gonna shine for you 'Cause I adore you Yes we gave it a try But maybe for too long Out of every sorrow Another day will dawn You're gonna find someone new I really hope you do 'Cause I love you And the sun will come on thru, It's gonna shine for you 'Cause I adore you And the road travels on But I'm still near you In my life, like a song I will still hear you Still Sun will shine for you 'Cause I adore you... *Eskobar ... Someone New

Boom

temptress_deborah — Sun, 28 Oct 2007 02:06:05 GMT

Ok those that know me well know how much I love soccer (real football) and rugby. My father played soccer professionally and rugby for fun. Both soccer and rugby are the kind of sports that are balls to the wall bad ass ... no pads, no helmets, no gear, just real men & real skills on the green. I watch matches as often as I can, either live or on the tele. And every once in awhile a player comes along that has amazing skill, force, and presence when he plays and for me right now that is Sonny Bill Williams. He plays rugby for the Canterbury Bulldogs. He's like a freight train on the field and smashes into players and moves like a wild beast - damn!!! And it certainly doesn't hurt that he's a serious piece of eye candy. :) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iyGAVKacvCA

Tasty

temptress_deborah — Sat, 13 Oct 2007 04:13:32 GMT

Mama wants some sugga but if I can't get some right now I'd be happy just to spend some time with my friends :) So on Thursday 10/18 my friend Angelicfiend ( http://people.tribe.net/angelicfiend ) & her band Tasty will be performing at Ireland 32 in SF. I'm going to be there for sure to catch their performance ... they go on at 930pm. Who's game to join me, share a pint & some sugga? *bats eyelashes & smiles sweetly* Ireland 32 3920 Geary Blvd at 3rd Ave in Richmond District SF

Savior & Torture

temptress_deborah — Sat, 06 Oct 2007 20:21:17 GMT

Open eyes to see the truth Open heart to feel the proof Lovers embrace to shield the cold Time to share, a hand to hold How interesting life can be with matters of the heart When circumstance and distance can keep us apart You are my savior and torture wrapped in one And from our connection a love has begun I close my eyes at night to sleep And in my dreams your presence does creep About the moments I wish I could keep A love like this always, yet I do weep I never thought a king like you could exist Now I do and sealed with a kiss Lover and friend coexist You are savior and torture wrapped in one Though I can't be with you I feel I have won My journey is just beginning, far from done Knowing you has blessed my life and opened my heart I saw your worth from the very start I'll keep looking for my king I'll someday have the real thing My gratefulness is anew My depth of faith in love purely grew You are savior and torture wrapped in one Men will come and go but compared to you there are none No matter what may keep us apart I'm grateful for you and your heart This hurting will fade and the pain will be done You are savior and torture wrapped in one

Home

temptress_deborah — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 17:17:44 GMT

I received word that my friend Kenyon has been found and is coming home. Injured and exhausted but alive. I can't thank everyone enough for all of your love, support, prayers, good wishes and positive intentions. I am so amazingly blessed!!! My cup runith over with love ...

Hurry home

temptress_deborah — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 18:53:16 GMT

Hurry home my brother and friend You know I am in your corner till the very end Where you are on lands far away Know that I keep you in my thoughts and dost to pray For you to return home in the safest of ways Until then I axiously count the days You've been my friend since we were small So many precious memories I do recall You've gone off to do a brave and noble deed I pray your journey be safe and god's speed My dear friend Kenyon has been in my life since we were 12. Our friendship has grown and changed throughout the years and he is more of a brother to me than anything else. He has always taken on the brave challenge of helping others, at whatever cost, so now is no exception to his noble life. He accepted a humanitarin aid position in the Sudan. Those that know anything about this troubled area know the severity of accepting such a task. Even in the first couple days of his journey great loss of life and stressful circumstances were with him daily. Now he and his team have been reported MIA. I pray for him and his team that they be safe and protected. And if the story end otherwise my heart breaks deeply and I pray he knew until the bitter end how much I love him and always will. He's my brother and friend. God's speed my dear ...

Miracles do happen

temptress_deborah — Thu, 09 Aug 2007 02:28:44 GMT

On Monday August 6th at 7:22pm my nephew Alexander came into this world. He and his mommy had a very difficult time with his arrival so I was overwhelmed with gratitude and relief when finally the doctors said that both of them were fine. She had gone through a painfully long labor that had to move into a c-section due to complications. As one of her labor coaches (her husband was the other person) I had seen her go through so much pain and labor (almost 24 consecutive hours) and been by her side massaging her, giving her baths and doing anything I could to help, it was such a relief to see her and Alexander after the surgery and that they were both healthy and fine. I had kept it together during the whole process ... calm, cool and collected but at that moment I finally let down and joyfully sobbed like a baby. :) During the pregnancy I've been talking to her belly so when he finally came out and was bundled up and I could hold him I was overjoyed to look at him, smile and say I'm so happy to finally be meeting you. I'm so completely smitten and overwhelmed with the love I have for this lil man. This auntie's a gonner :) PS - Can I get a nap now though? Oh geeze, I wasn't even in labor, just the coach but damn I'm exhausted!!! It's been a long couple of days but oh so worth everything!!! Miracles do happen :)