Boy howdy I know I'm on your list, kid but here's why

It's been forever since I blogged, or since you've seen me or Grandpa Don, and there's been so much to happen. 
First off, you're getting a little brother or sister.  Remember to share Theodore with them.
He's really yours, but I know you'll want to share him with the new one.
And if you feel like it, you can share Pinky with him too... Pinky would love that.

Anyway, on to what's driving me back to the blog aside from guilt at not writing for you -
I've had an ephiphany of sorts.  I have this enormous block of knowledge that I've spent a lifetime acquiring - and the time has come to use it.

Simply put, I've decided to develop a class called "Magick for Dummies".  By no means meant to be a comprehensive exploration or education on the subject, but instead disseminating information about it and demonstrating that it does indeed exist. 
There's honestly no religious component to it either, unless it's self assigned. 

Regardless, I have a feeling that there's going to be controversy about my decision to teach this particular subject too ...  however I have a right to teach from my experience and knowledge base.  And I'm not doing advanced studies, taking on apprentices or anything like that.

I really feel that something like this needs to be taught.

Litha 2008 - Field notes

Well Andrea, you've known for a while now that I'm a Witch. (Technically, Universalist Wiccan, but I digress. I don't know whether I'll still be doing ritual or back to my old lazy self, however this is one that I want down for the record.
Here's what I 'm thinking.
Since Litha is traditionally the time that the veil between mortal and Faery is the thinnest, do a ritual that invokes Oberon and Titania, the rulers of Faery, as God and Goddess.
That's all I have at the moment, but then again this is just the initial planning.
More as it develops.

Paranormal State on A&E

There's a program on A&E called "Paranormal State" - the premise is simple, it involves a team of college students investigating paranormal phenomenon and reporting on their findings, including trying to resolve issues with the phenomenon. They actually go so far as to include a hereditary Pagan (they don't go so far as to call her Wiccan) on their team, so that does win some cudos from me.
Now, I realize that with my background and experience, I have a better perspective than most on things like this; however I really take issue with what seems to be a recurring theme - that almost all the phenomenon they are dealing with is demonic in nature. Based strictly on what this show presents, you'd expect a demon under every rock. While I appreciate the fact that sensationalism sells, crap like this does nothing but bring ridicule and misinformation to something that should be studied and dealt with on an individual basis rather than putting it in one box marked DEMONIC.

It appears that the primary reason for this is due to their use of Lorraine Warren as an "expert", (to see why I put expert in quotes, check her and her late husband's work on the "Amityville Horror" case, a phenomenon itself at the time, later proven to be a fraud, to cite just one example.)

Quite frankly, I find it hard to believe that Lorraine Warren hasn't taken issue with the Pagan in the group, calling her a "Devil worshipper" or other similar stereotype.

Andrea, with any luck, this show won't be on by the time you're old enough to understand what I'm writing, and your own opinions on phenomenon like this will continue to be educated (believe me, I'm going to work damn hard on that one. According to your chart, you have great potential and I for one won't see it wasted or warped.) I've already warned your mother about this, so when the weirdness starts happening, we can always cite it as an "I told you so" event. I do have the feeling that your father's going to be a different story, however. Just don't scare him too badly.