Explore Chaos with Heather Walker

Last night I had a dream too. I was in the second floor of my home looking out the window to see a huge flood coming down the street.... but it was controlled in a way as it was just in the street. I continued to converse with my children.  

Then a second flood came down the street. I looked out the window wondering if I needed to be concerned. No people were outside. The water did come up over the curb. But then I felt a great peace and calm as I realized that the grass needed the water, the ground was drinking up the water, and everything was actually really good. I went back to caring for my children and feeling deeply loved. I woke feeling waves of deep loving emotions and feeling like I had actually survived the "Great Storm" and was to thrive.

NOT A DREAM: Last night my ex-mother-in-law called me. We had not spoken since 1981!! She wanted to tell me that she thought VERY well of me and that she KNEW I had done "nothing wrong." She said she didn't know what her son had done but she did know I had done nothing "wrong" and she did not want to pass this earth without letting me know how dearly she thought of me. Then she said that she wished me great happiness in life.... I could have cried a river of joyful tears....  and I belive that is the flood that is coming for those of us who have done the hard work.

One thing for sure...great change is coming. Now this will be the last post I envision myself doing !  Be well

Dear Heather:

I agree with you in part for there is going to be a great deal of attention paid to the depression because of the state of our economy.  They will call it a recession but other than the banks failing there will be little it can relate to other than a genuine depression.  I think the oil prices and food shortages alone are going to make us all take serious notice in the next month to be exact.  Thanks for making us think once again.

Rosie

I also agree this is coming.  I am living in a rural valley in northern California where the farmers are taking steps to ensure their survival.  The hay is no good this year - they are having to buy it.  Even if it was good, they cannot afford the gas for the equipment.  They are planting huge gardens, stockpiling foods in the walk in pantries.  I had been planning to move down to Palm Springs and I am rethinking that choice.  

Thanks for posting this.  We all should heed these warnings now and prepare for what is to come.

I'm not trying to put out an "End of the World" omen.  Gosh no.  But perhaps, maybe, just maybe, an End of the World As We Know It vibe.

Kelly, thanks for the input.  I'm a financial conservative and believe in preparing for the worst, while expecting the best.  It sounds like your farmers are smart to prepare.  I'd rather be wrong and overly prepared, then wrong and underprepared!  Just think, who wouldd not have bought 100's of gallons of gas last year if they could have stored it...and knew where things would be now?

Really this post was not about predicting another great depression, but predicting a "Hollywood" trend.



 

What I said about California and hollywood being ripe for a down turn - - that dovetails your depression movie thought... perhaps more depression era movies will be produced as those folks will be in their own "depression".....and in more than one type of D. California CAN NOT continue to exist as it has for years..... the weight of its overglorification of advocacy thinking and legislature (i.e. it's social welfare & socialism) can not be carried into the new world order. I wonder how these dynamics will effect movie making in general.

I have always loved movies b/c each movie - especially seen on big screen - allows you to experience a situation and event with out actually having to live through it... one huge past life regression...and if you allow it it can help heal old wounds as well as help to understand the consequence of choices.

I think the monopoly by Hollywood on the film industry/media is a thing of the past.  

Just as video killed the radio star, You Tube blasted them ALL.

Why watch television based out of California, when BBC(A) is so darned cool...and much more global focused?  

Californians blame Bush for their bad economy, but you know, I am tempted to blame California for painting a rose-colored view of life...and selling it at $10 per person (for under 2 hours!)  The Dumbification of Amercia?  

But I do not blame a single state for the state of the nation.

Gosh, how many Bush-Satan analogies do you think Hollywood will make in the next year?  

Dear Heather:

I have half my family in California and I am very tuned into the pulse of Northern Californians who are a much different breed than the Southerners.  Like Kelley has so aptly put it there is a survival instinct kicking in with the farmers and that includes us here in the boonies of West Virginia.  We are totally into alternative energy, building straw bale houses, using our water frugally and saving rain water.  We have an air to water machine where we get our drinking water and we are learning how to make use of what we have.  We have always gardened but now I am really into developing unique small scale gardens that people can use on rooftops so they can feed their families.  I am not a doom and gloom person in any way.  I think the change that is coming is going to be wonderful beginning for the world but I am no fool either.  I want to help take care of those and that includes my children and family that are not totally aware of all the changes they will have to adapt to.  Being aware is not spreading doom.  Having knowledge never harms anyone and if nothing else it will help us care for our planet in a more loving way.

Just my two cents here from the peanut gallery!

Rosie

You know I was raised LDS and they suggest always having a years worth of supplies.  The last year I have been feeling like it is time to prepare, and I have started.  Little bits at a time.

I have been feeling the back to basics and close to home feeling.  It is actually a peaceful way to live.

There is something larger than our elections and even Hollywood that is adding to this.  I also feel as if it is time to remain close to our families, friends, groups.

Rosie...peanut gallery..are you growing nuts in the Mtns, too?  Jimmy Carter would love you!

Self-sustainment is very much what it is about.  I praise your ability to produce!  If you produce what you need, you worry less about what you earn (income) AND your footprint on the planet is reduced.

My husband and I are looking in to getting solar panels.  Our town used to generate enough electricity from the Shenandoah River, but with the growth boom of this area, the town now purchases electricity from petroleum-based sources.  GASP.



 

Dear Mathematician:

I have been a "lost" resident of Southern California specifically Orange County for a few years and to say I don't miss the upbeat nature of California is an understatement.  I just simply cannot afford to live in that state anymore.  It is going to the dogs and its political leaders really frost my cake.  I think they should go back to Hollywood and chase girls like they have always done.  I live in the midatlantic states now and I love it but I am like Rosie I feel we better get smart and real fast or it really will be too late for those of us who are isolated from the mainstream.  People in rural areas really are the first to initiate changes and the last to accept them in their hearts.  I found them to be stubborn, smart but in some instances like ostriches also.  California and the East Coast are the ones that bring in the new but the farmers I think are the ones that provide for them what they need to do it.  Our Farmers have been set aside for new technology and it is going to cost us.  So I am going back to nature and thanks to friends like Rosie and others I am learning to be a quasi survivalist of a sort.  I don't have a lot of time left on this earth but I am going to make it good.

Willow

Willow,
I see that you will embrace your time here on Earth with open passion and positive products.

Are you an artist by chance?  Just a vibe.

Farmers ARE the life-blood of this country.  My state has a relatively large agricultural community, but as you mentioned...it is being replaced by technology sectors.  Granted there is a "trend" to buy land in the country to grow boutique produce, but it is not the same as the big family farm of yester-year.

One thing on a positive note.  With the focus on bio-fuels, we will need the American farmer more than ever!    

Farmers of all sorts ARE the ones who produce 85% of America's raw materials.  We sometimes forget this as Americans.

Salute to the farmers!!
 

hi all! Personally....
I really think our times are in for a huge HUGE shock - now I am in Canada - so I am a cousin.....
I hope in my day I will see a borderless world - global economy and acceptance (not tolerance - complete acceptance of each person's individuality) If someone is unhappy with it as it is - they can leave and go where they like. I would also like to see and hope I do - teaching of how to garden, tools to garden and tools to learn to that they can be all they can be. A world - yes world - where colour, race, beliefs do not label a person. The computer does this for us. We know nothing short of what the person says they are from the mystereious cyberspace we come from.....
I personally believe that large corporations that are humanless and only profit oriented will be no longer and small organizations are able to once again thrive in our world, not just north americal....less government and more independence but through empowerment. Hollywood is of course manipulative as is the media at large including any that censor our information - another good thing about the net....it has its downfall of course, but it has more good then bad - to say the least. I tend to think global - forward and proactively - pragmatic though....alright, I think I have put enough topics in here and still somehow maintained your origninal one heather! Hope so any how....on depression....well - same amount of money exists today as yesterdays....bread seems to cost more of a portion out of our earnings then in past - this is simply greed on beaurocrats end though....same wheat is being produced....still same procedures....
gosh - I think I need some coffee - brain is getting confused in this verbiage! LOL
good blog!

Sharlyne, I was just in Canada about two months ago.  And WE know you are Americans, too!  Not cousins, brothers and sisters.

You are right that as much money exists now as it did yesterday.  That's the simplistic side of economics...it is about how that money is balanced and what limited resources are balancing it.  

North Americans (U.S., et al) need to come together as a merged entity.  I was so upset to need a passport to go into Canada.  Of course, I brought it, it just sucks to need it.  Know what I mean?  Trade needs to open up more between U.S., Canada, and Mexico.  

no kidding....it is because of this country and peculuar laws in imigration and right protections etc...one day perhaps we will see a chip in the finger or something so identiy theft will be down....scary thought in some ways, but I am not totally opposed to it - provided freedom is respected. I am currently having a pretty crazy fight with the government and it is interesting to see how much power they seem to want to yeild....
Greed is a funny thing....gets me angry when I see it because you cannot take it with you when you leave, it is a fear based deal and rather frightening to me. I have so little yet I have so much. By what measure is a man? Sure as heck does not matter in the long run how shiny and how many cars he had....can't be used on the other side can it!
what can we do to make our world better?
I am in my own business and do what ever is needed to make things work. I feel pretty strong about doing my best to make our world a better place in my own actions and thoughts.  I certainly am all over self preservation, but I will not sit and watch someone suffer if I can help. However if that help is refused or abused, I will not dis empower either. You interfere with their own lesson then. Anyhow on the free trade - yes - I am rather open to opening up our borders more in North Americe period. But I am very anti arms -
Economy is an interesting topic.....I took a very enlightening course called "Prosperity Consciousness" by Fredrick Lehrman (hope I spelt the name correct) Really gave a paradgm shift to me about finance. One person will feel broke with only 100.00 in pocket while another feels uncomfortable with 1000 and another with 20. So it is all about one's point of reference. Then in terms of spending, well, that was another powerful lesson. Trade is no less valuable then currency. Very cool concepts were taught. It changed my world a lot in this point of money. Another good lesson I had was through a book called effortless prosperity. Very cool way to think and it is based in faith. I have had to apply it on many occaisions and although I am cerainly not in a good place financially, I am not quite destitute either.
Canada is a melting pot of opportunity for many. We have  opened the flood gates to many and it is a great place in many ways. Economically very sound - but I feel you are accurate and we will see big banks fail -someone wrote that- we have heaps of natural resources that are so rich, but being responsible to earth is not in the big picture. They are trying - but have a long way to go!

Sharlyne,
I love the Canada I've seen.  In Vancouver everyone kept saying that they see themselves as an extension of Washington state.  That was cool.  I felt the first person was being a tad condescending, but I kept hearing it.  Of course, there is a lot of trade between BC and Washington state, so it does make sense.

I'm not a big gun supporter.  In the U.S it is a civil right (a highly debated civil right.)  In the America I know, I would/could never own a gun.  That may change soon, I suppose, but I'm not waiting happily for that day.  

Thank you for sharing!  We Americans got another look, from a Canadian perspective ;-)
Hugs,
Heather

:-)
Only difference between here and Seattle is a couple hundred k (about a 2 hour drive - 120ish miles)
we have a bit nicer scenery with the coastal range, but - same silly amount of rain! TOOOOOOO much
guns, well - I still sleep with my doors unlocked...sometimes forget keys in ignition...(not too often) refuse to live in fear and if I ever start - you can shoot me! LOL

Hi Math and a topic that I have been pondering for some time now.  I recently put my cable to 'antenna only'.  Actually, kinda cool!  Don't have to 'surf' the TV much now.  Lots of channels are there for the watching.  Bush's 'stimulus package" I brought down credit cards and WOW they sure get mad when you pay them OFF and CANCEL.  Be firm.  

Actually, I had already thought of a long-ago film in a psyfi/Adventure and Futeristic state of California and Los Angeles. The dramatized (of course) "rules" of government are way out of hand.  I see it  happening in a more suble way now although not so far out in retrospect.  The film (first time I saw Sandra Bullock but Sylvestor Stallone was the star) " I think it was called "The Demolition Man".  Kinda making a weird sense now.  Are we really free?  The old 1/2 show "The Twilight Zone" also comes to mind.  So, they have been here a long time - these films.  Now, not so rediculous in a sense.

So many examples of taking our freedom away slowly but surely: Cameras, yes they have wonderful advantage of catching criminals but it's weird to feel those cameras on me wherever I go.  Okay, Bush's policy on listening in on phone conversations, sounds good in the way he puts it ie to profile terrorists but is that really true?  Is is proven?  Cigarette fanantics:  sorry, I don't smoke but I certainly believe even if I did or didn't that, let's say bars,  does one leave a bar and kill people on the road from 'smoking?"  Yet alcohol is freely served and I truly believe that is has nothing to do with safety of others - it is for 'revenue' money and that's all.  Most smokers I have noticed are very couteous about it if it offends.  Second hand smoke?  Don't don't buy myself unless you are right in the face of someone 24/7.  I know this may lead to contoversy but I don't care.  I am being polite with my opinion and I hope you all are if in response.  

I DO believe in micro chips: Pets, babies, etc.  How man children would have been recovered if kidnapped if they had a chip in an unknown area of their body?  How many pedophiles would think twice before their heinous crimes against children.  

Uh oh got me going Math - your specailty.  Blessings, Barb

I did get you going there, Barb.  Hehe...Lady Hope is going to say that you say a lot A LOT ;-)  

My opposition to smoking comes from watching my grandmother die an very unpleasant death as a very young girl.  I remember the oxygen tanks and hospital bed in the living room we going to visit.  My favorite Uncle later died from the long-term effects of cigarette smoke.  All of my sibling and parent smoked for a long period of time, most of them quit when my father had a heart-attack.  My father is still here, but I think it made it more "real" for some.  Only my little sister (19!!!) smokes....something she "picked up in Europe."  :-(  

Second hand smoke is incredibly bothersome to those who do not smoke.  It stinks to high heaven and I refuse to let one person's unhealthy habit impact me.  Second-hand smoke can increase health issues if exposed to it regularly (a parent who smokes in a car with their kids, in the house, etc.)  It also makes one's teeth and fingers yellow.  Yuck.

Alcohol.  I drink alcohol.  I'm a wine junkie.  I've traveled the globe just in the pursuit of good wine.  I cannot object to its sale.  But I have NEVER, would never ever ever drink and drive.  My friend, who is an attorney, used to give me such a hard time when we went out.  I had a "two hour rule."  For every normal serving of alcohol I had, I waited two hours before driving.  I usually stopped drinking rather early.  The one time I accepted a cocktail before leaving, I had to sit in a parking garage for two hours!!  I used to give THEM a hard time, too.  But I guess my friend "got it" when she was charged with a DWI.      
 
I have no problem with cameras in public.  I mean, people see what you do anyway, with cameras you just stand to get busted for it ;-)  Virginia is far from being a Nanny Strate, but Virginia's Dem Gov approved the bill for red light cameras.  Criminals are caught because of video footage in public places, quite often, actually.  

I have my dogs microchipped.  I'm not microchipped.  I would consider it if I felt there was a need.  Would I chip my child?  WOW.  Good question, Barb.  I don't know.  The benefits are clear.  I know most of the chip technologies current have a lifespan of about 20-years.  Maybe chip the child, remove it when they turn 18?  

Oh....one other thing.  When paying off credit cards, pay them off and leave a zero balance for about 6 months.  If you plan on paying off and cancelling multiple cards...DO NOT cancel revolving credit all at once!  Cancel one credit line every 6 months.  It can screw (mildly to seriously) with your true credit value.  This may change in the next few years as legislation, but for now it holds.

Just a tip!

Barb, thanks for the input.  I like Demolition Man.  I had completely forgotten about it until just now.  Flash back!

coooooool
I enjoy the common sense here....
chips.....it sure would save a lot of grief with the purse thing which I gave up eons ago. And the multiple pieces of id....I agree with the common knowledge thing. Freedom is something though I take pretty seriously and independence. I am a total anarchist and trust implicitly in the universal laws. In my world it is always 10 fold.
smoking - happily finally a nonsmoker it was this time 3 years ago I witnessed the most frightening thing with smoking....My aunt - who may well be the reason I started smoking - just because I thought she was so great -she litereally lost her marbles and was halucinating but lucid! It turns out that carbon dioxide was being trapped in  her brain as the lungs would not filter correctly due to the build up of the nicotine, I should know how bad her lungs must have been. I cleaned her walls at her home after the fact and they never did get clean after 3 washings and lungs are a living organ that are continually rebuilding - so not much of a chance there with the steady inhale and hold on the filthy slimy stuff. Anyhow - it is a form of emphazema (forgive the spelling - you get the drift) any how ugly dramatic death - but I will tell you she wanted to go and it is her life. I miss her everyday, and loved her like crazy, but she was a handful! Anyhow after watching that and the grey wrinkled skin and the omg stench that hung on everything - I am pretty opposed to it.
If you think about he camera thing - remember everything we do counts and we are never alone NEVER - so even if man is watching with its own ego and agenda - who cares, because we have been watched all along.....hmmmmmmm it is only an illusion you know. This game on this planet is such a small piece of the big picture - think about the infinite universe out there. What we need to do is learn to get along with eachother and be good to eachother and follow our soul and love. If you think you are not being watched in a small way now...think again. It is how much of a wave you make though.
alcohol.....I am anti drinking and driving! OMG it ought to be an instant manslaugher charge no ifs if a life is altered or taken. I kind of wish we were more like Europe - never been but heard it is much more evolved and alcohol is not the issue that it is here.
Alright - sorry Heather - totally changed the direction on you! It is good though and clearly getting a bit of positive thoughts...

My times in Europe lead me to think drunk driving is not such a blessing there either.  I think one big difference is you tend to have more neighborhood pubs/bar that people can walk to.  That is changing, though, as things become more urbanized.    I remember being in Italy, going to vineyards and having lunch/dinner with lots of wine...then fearing for my life when our driver (who dined with us) was doing over 150 km/h on the Autostrada.  I had to put my foot down!  Scared the life out of me, almost.

I have to tell you, I loved the Vancouver skyline.  We had dinner one night at a place called the Salmon House (N.Vancouver.)  Awesome view.  But then, there's an awesome view from just about everywhere.

My husband and I talked to a lot of locals (in BC) regarding Candaian social programs.  A lot of Americans are anti-big governemt and think our government is full of crooks...yet want the Federal Government to run our health care system.  I find it ironic.   I prefer to look towards the individual states to provide residential healthcare.  It could be more tailored to local health issues and a more precisely targeted.  Just my opinion.

There did seem to be a concern with Vancouverites (?) about declining health coverage.  I've not looked into it much, to be honest.  But I suspect I will be giving it a lot of attention over the summer.

Thank you for joining in!!      

Hi Heather - I am not a fan of the healthcare system at all.....I would like to see taught in schools about your anatomy and nutrition and put more responsibility on the individual. You can do a lot of healing via nutritrion and learn how your own body works and then understand more of the glandular system and immune etc and the overall workings of your body. We have it provincially here - which is like states.....it is a seriously abused system with tremendous flaws that - well like I said a complete over haul. (hard to say if I will see it in my life. ) THey are improving here in some ways - accupuncture is now covered by our plans! With the babyboomers aging....it is a concern. THis is my solution for the up and coming generations. So far it works for me and my family.  I rarely go to doc - chiro farirly often and tend to be body mind spirit about my health.I am in the minority.... :-)
I have not been on the roads in Europe, only been as far as Mexico and that was a bit scary as far as the driving went - but so was New York - been there too.LOL Drinking and driving should never be ok. If our judgement is impaired so would be the motor skills I would say - at least what I have observed.
I thought the Salmon House was on top of Burnaby Mountain....but could be wrong - I do not go out to much! You are right all skylines have their glory! When I was in Mexico I barely slept - just wanted ot be out and enjoy the foliage and  the azteec energy!
Our government.....beaurocratic is really only a understated word. No one really knows what is going on and although we are rather free, we are pretty socialistic.....(I like to live in the delusion I am free to do what I want) Working for me so far! LOL)

enquiring mind  - West Vancouver is where the Salmon House is. Right beside North Van - West has the most expensive property in Canada. Less then 30 minutes to the marina or the ski chalet. Very spectacular homes there and nice lush landscape - but that is everywhere here. Right now keeping it good and lush is the lovely downpour that probably won't stop  until sunday.....:-(
Maybe it will get nice!

I know we had to go over the Lion's Gate Bridge.  We were staying at a darling Bed and Breakfast in N.Vancouver.  My husband drove...so admittedly I just knew it was on the water ;-)
Do you know the Capilano Suspension Bridge?  Scared the crap out of my husband.  He refused to go across. ;-)

I would love for the U.S. to focus more on health education during early education years...starting in grades 3 or 4.   I studied biochemistry for a while (I studied everything for a while, LOL) but not until college.  Nutrition was something I taught myself.  Even now I make bad choices sometimes (see above reference to alcohol!)

I refused to see Sicko...I don't need a fat man's commentary on American Healthcare.  How insulting for HIM to be lecturing to ME!!!  Plus after his other fiction...Roger and Me, Bowling for Columbine, Farenheit 9/11, etc....I knew it would just piss me off.  Plus, I don't want that man to have even a fraction of my bucks!!  Jeez...did I just rant?  Sorry.

Anyway, I think it would be much better if more Insurance companies paid for Chiropractic care here.  I look at Dr.Donna (a Cali-based Chiro) who is well-rounded in many alternative treatments.  Providing paid access to these alternative via exisiting insurance could help 1) reduce the overall cost of health care, 2) provide non-surgical options, and 3) fit the belief system of more people.

Just my thoughts ;-)

you shop like me.....LOL - I won't spend what I don't support if I can help it! Nor do I listen to others talk if they don't walk it!
suspension bridge had me kind of doing a squat walk. Like that would help in a fall.......I was the only one I noticed with that walk.....
so far though and thousands of tourists later.....no casualties to my knowledge.

ps there is trace gold in red wine! (not a wine fan, but it sure is supposed to be good for you!) I don't really drink - but my coffee! Well, it is only life for crying out loud

Sharlyne,

You had me laughing soooo hard imagining your "squat walk"....

My husband froze about 5 ft out.  LOL.  And he's a guy's guy, so it was reaaaaly funny.  

I told everyone that he did not cross, so before we headed back to Seattle the next day he drove back to the park to cross the bridge.  ;-)  I sat in the car emailing everyone that he was doing it this time.  

But he DID do it.