2010.01.03 13:00 - Of loss, pain and meaning...followed by dessert

The Guardian for this meeting was Maxine Walden. The comments are by Maxine Walden.

This lovely conversation meanders as do many of these PaB sessions, but it seems to me that the earnestness and honesty in the sharing, bearing, and comforting is wonderful to experience and to witness.  And after the sharing comes the comfort food, for body, mind and heart.   Gentle reader, hope you enjoy this session as much as I did being a part of it (even though I had to leave before the dessert). 

Maxine Walden: hi, Eden
Eden Haiku: Hi Maxine!
Maxine Walden: Do I see your New Year's wish? to travel light of heart in 2010?
Eden Haiku: Yes!
Maxine Walden: wonderful !
Maxine Walden: hi, Yaku
Eden Haiku: Yes, I like it already!
Yakuzza Lethecus: hey everyone
Yakuzza Lethecus: HNY maxine
Eden Haiku: Hello Yakuzza!
Maxine Walden: yes, HNY to you too, Yaku!
Maxine Walden: Interesting to have the snow and the flowers and greenery here in SL at the same time...
Eden Haiku: A landscaping koan
Maxine Walden: How is the New Year treating you each so far?
Eden Haiku: A beautiful snowstorm here to greet the New year. can you feel my cold red cheeks?
Eden Haiku: I just came from a walk.
Maxine Walden: I can see them, yes, Eden.
Eden Haiku: ;-)
Maxine Walden: Came from snow and skiing the last several days. Snow can be just magical, it seems to me
Eden Haiku: What about you Maxine? Nice start?
Eden Haiku: Oh, you answered before the question! Zeroeth time conversation, I like that!
Eden Haiku: What about you Yaku?
Maxine Walden: Yes, thanks, good start to the New Year; also have some hopes to be more open and light-hearted, open-hearted into the New Year
Eden Haiku: Nice ;-)
Yakuzza Lethecus: I just decided to really join the group in malta, nothing exciting happened otherwise so far
Eden Haiku: waving to SophiaSharon
Eden Haiku: Wonderful! Yaku, that is a great start!
Maxine Walden: oh, but that is wonderful Yaku! Glad you are going
SophiaSharon Larnia: Hi everyone :)
SophiaSharon Larnia: waves
Maxine Walden: Hi Sophia Sharon
Yakuzza Lethecus: hey sophia
Eden Haiku: Hi SophiaSharon ;-)
Yakuzza Lethecus: hiya gaya
Maxine Walden: hi, Gaya
SophiaSharon Larnia: Hi Gaya
Gaya Ethaniel: Hello Sharon, Maxine, Eden and Yakuzza :)
Gaya Ethaniel: Sorry I'm late.
Maxine Walden: we are just gathering actually
Eden Haiku: Hello Gaya!
Gaya Ethaniel: :)
Maxine Walden: But maybe we could also turn our thoughts...to PaB issues, concerns?
SophiaSharon Larnia: :)
Eden Haiku: Sure.
Gaya Ethaniel listens :)
Maxine Walden: Maybe we each listening, Gaya. Listening to our experience, perhaps, our direct experience during the upcoming pause?
Gaya Ethaniel: ok :)
Eden Haiku: I just saw the fluorescent effect on solidity you are talking about in a log SophiaS.
SophiaSharon Larnia: took an unintended hiatus, getting back on track
SophiaSharon Larnia: interesting you picked that up Eden, that is exactly what i meant, i didnt read the log yet
Qt Core: hi all
Gaya Ethaniel: Hello Qt :)
SophiaSharon Larnia: Hi Qt
Maxine Walden: maybe we can hear more about that after the pause, Sophia and Eden
Maxine Walden: hi Qu
Maxine Walden: At
Maxine Walden: Qt!!
Eden Haiku: Buying coffee in a little store. Going into a 9 secs and solid reality cristallizing in a neon-like effect.
--BELL--
Wol Euler: hello veryone, sorry I'm late
Yakuzza Lethecus: welcome qt,wol
Gaya Ethaniel: Hello Wol :)
Maxine Walden: I Wol, in the midst of the pause
Qt Core: hi wol
Eden Haiku: You both arrived in a pool of respectful silence Wol and Qt ;-)
Wol Euler: oops
Eden Haiku: That is fine!
Gaya Ethaniel: :)
SophiaSharon Larnia is so releive someone knows what I was talking about, I was really tired trying to say tha
SophiaSharon Larnia: that*
Eden Haiku: We just don't want you to think we are rude ;-)
Maxine Walden: care to say more Sophia and Eden about your common experiend?
Qt Core: np eden
Eden Haiku: Let me quote Sophia Sharon first, from the log ok?
Maxine Walden: please
SophiaSharon Larnia: yes, neon, but more in an inner seeing sense, not with my actual eyes
Gaya Ethaniel: In case, this is the log Sharon talks about 'solidity' I think -- http://playasbeing.wik.is/Chat_Logs/2010/01/2010.01.02_19:00_-_Working_with_Solidity
SophiaSharon Larnia: in my memory
Eden Haiku: well, thats the funny thing, that is where the solidity bocomes almost too hard to look at, like its under flourescent lights
Eden Haiku: qotation marks (SophiaS)
SophiaSharon Larnia: we talk here and concepts float and seem to have no substance
SophiaSharon Larnia: and walking in the world of light and sound some things stand still
SophiaSharon Larnia: solid
SophiaSharon Larnia: i think it may be related to what is going on in my life, that it was just anxiety
SophiaSharon Larnia: but have come to think now it isnt so
Maxine Walden: What is your current thought, Sharon?
Maxine Walden: sorry, SophiaSharon
SophiaSharon Larnia: i feel like im under a spotlight talking about it actually lol
Gaya Ethaniel: :)
SophiaSharon Larnia: oh please call me sharon :))
Maxine Walden: ah, under flourscent spotlight?
Eden Haiku: For me it seems like what I take in during the 9 secs break (sometimes) is more real than real, solid. And there is a glow to it when I'm aware of this solidity. Which is almost unreal...
SophiaSharon Larnia: at the moment, not with the perception im talking about
Gaya Ethaniel: Well I'd say something ... read the log before. It's just that I'd like to listen a bit more about what you mean by 'solidity'.
SophiaSharon Larnia: hmm
Gaya Ethaniel: ah I see Eden. Same for you Sharon re: 'solid'?
SophiaSharon Larnia: it doesnt glow for me, except in my mind
SophiaSharon Larnia: but the environment to me says "here!, its here! its real"
Maxine Walden: carrying that inner glow, perhaps? And that is very real in your experience, perhaps?
Eden Haiku: The glow is in the mind, yes, like a fluttering effect. Real/not real. Solid/energies whirling...
SophiaSharon Larnia: ive been avoiding a lot of things lately, and reality is asserting itself to me
SophiaSharon Larnia: it feels like being says, i see this, here
Eden Haiku: Good description.
SophiaSharon Larnia: hmm not sure about that but thanks lol
Eden Haiku: I read a description in the morning paper that reminds me that kind of experience.
SophiaSharon Larnia: personal and impersonal at the same time
Gaya Ethaniel ponders re: 'reality is asserting itself' :)
SophiaSharon Larnia: ok thats assuming the reality is a thing with a consciousness of its own, i dont have a better ohrase for it
SophiaSharon Larnia: phrase*
Maxine Walden: Eden, you read a description in the paper, you wish to share it?
Gaya Ethaniel: I don't have issues with the phrase Sharon, I was just thinking over similar experiences of mine ... :)
SophiaSharon Larnia: smiles
Eden Haiku: The reporter took'ayahuasca' with a peruvian chaman and he says this. (I'm translating from French)
Gaya Ethaniel: How it is interesting yet at the beginning, hard to face ...
--BELL--
SophiaSharon Larnia: yes i feel myself turning my head, blinking my eyes, i cant take its 'there-ness' and have to question why i am so afraid
Gaya Ethaniel nods. I was thinking about what you said re: avoiding some things ...
SophiaSharon Larnia: yes
Gaya Ethaniel: Sometimes I just sigh and go 'I guess I should [A], it's important probably.' heheheh
SophiaSharon Larnia: whats going on with me doesnt need to be in the log, but yes, I agree Gaya :))
Gaya Ethaniel: ah ok :)
Maxine Walden: But maybe we are also brushing with the experience of fear about facing the new or unknown, the 'reality' that we may not have been able to face before
Gaya Ethaniel nods. Fear is an interesting topic ... if one fears, there is hope also.
Eden Haiku: 'This is one of the most surprising effects of ayahuasca. This thing talks to you. Leads you. Suggests things to you. Comfort you.' (quoting the reporter, La Presse, January 2, 2010, p. 3)
SophiaSharon Larnia: the difference is like coming out from floating in water and then finding yourself in a city landscape
Maxine Walden: As if there is something to fear in the new or unexplored
Gaya Ethaniel: Which can be exciting as well as daunting ... :)
Maxine Walden: indeed, gaya
SophiaSharon Larnia: yes true maxine
Gaya Ethaniel: It is so easy to focus on fear only ... and miss out potential opportunities in new situations.
Gaya Ethaniel: missing out seeing*
Maxine Walden: yes
Eden Haiku: And a bit further: 'For like many hours (,,,) no more Bruno. Only a rain of complex codes. Time has exploded. All is disintegrating.Is it 'The Matrix'? The formation of the universe? ' Sounds like Being Seeing I think.
SophiaSharon Larnia: is that a hallucinogen Eden?
Gaya Ethaniel: But fear of uncertainty certainly is a big one ...
Gaya Ethaniel: lol uncertainty & certainly
SophiaSharon Larnia: :)
Maxine Walden: Interesting, Eden
Eden Haiku: Yes, I would think so. With a peruvian chaman, the guy is reporting on a weekly basis around the world. All kinds of experinces. Usually on another level ;-)
SophiaSharon Larnia: it can seem like in my head, through introspection
SophiaSharon Larnia: would that be the way I am coloring it then
SophiaSharon Larnia: doing it to myself
Eden Haiku: What do you mean Sophia?
SophiaSharon Larnia: well, im not taking a hallucinogen
SophiaSharon Larnia: smiles
Gaya Ethaniel: You mean visualising Sharon?
SophiaSharon Larnia: yes
Gaya Ethaniel: ah ok
Maxine Walden: so what are afraid you might be visualizing?
Eden Haiku: Yes, I quoted him because I was surprised that his description looks like what I experience sometimes. Without an hallucinogen...
SophiaSharon Larnia: I go to discussion groups and talk about things that are theoretical, ephermal type concepts with little real substance except in how they affect how you behave in the world
Foxtree Gorbunov: hi
SophiaSharon Larnia: to see this reality as a hard solid thing challenges the validity of living in a world of soft concepts and ideas
Maxine Walden: hi, Foxtree
Gaya Ethaniel: Hello Foxtree :)
SophiaSharon Larnia: Hi Foxtree
Wol Euler: hello fox
Wol Euler: happy new year
Foxtree Gorbunov: happy new your Wol, and every one
SophiaSharon Larnia: one of my fears is that im wasting my time
Foxtree Gorbunov: Nothing is a waste if you need it at the time
Yakuzza Lethecus: good night
SophiaSharon Larnia: good night Yakuzza :)
Foxtree Gorbunov: good night Yakuzza
Eden Haiku: Goo night Yaku!
--BELL--
Gaya Ethaniel: Do you feel these experiences of soliditiy are pointing at something, such as real needs to change?
Gaya Ethaniel: Like cues ...

And then Sophia tells us something about potential loss which touches us all deeply

SophiaSharon Larnia: My best friend probably wont live through the winter and its has been hard to deal with. I keep making it mean something but fear it may not, so i wonder if these experiences are directly related to that
Wol Euler: oh, I'm so sorry to hear it Sharon.
Gaya Ethaniel: I'm sorry to hear that Sharon ...
Eden Haiku: Yes, that must be painful.
Maxine Walden: oh, so many emotions and vulnerable feelings, Sharon, may be hard to bear. So sorry to hear that

And Sophia understandably becomes a bit worried...and in a bit shares some of her confusion about things mattering, being meaningful...and we all wonder about meaning and pain in the face of 'all is illusion'

SophiaSharon Larnia: yes,I appreciate that but dont say it to hear people say that :)
Gaya Ethaniel: What does this mean btw ' I keep making it mean something'?
Wol Euler: of course.
SophiaSharon Larnia: in fact hearing it makes me a little crazy
Eden Haiku: ?
SophiaSharon Larnia: well, a life
Foxtree Gorbunov: Not crazy, fearfull...I would say
SophiaSharon Larnia: does life mean anything
SophiaSharon Larnia: laughs
Eden Haiku: listening
Gaya Ethaniel: ah ... I see
SophiaSharon Larnia: same old thing lol
Eden Haiku: does it mean anything Sharon?
Maxine Walden: Your friend means a lot to you so of course his/her impending death would stir a wondering about meaning. How could it not?
Foxtree Gorbunov: It my have meaning and it may not
Gaya Ethaniel nods.
Gaya Ethaniel: I mean I agree with Maxine.
Wol Euler nods
Eden Haiku: The impending loss must be meaningful to you Sharon.
SophiaSharon Larnia: yes, this world is solid for me it the THERE but it is NOT there
Foxtree Gorbunov: it means something to you or you would not ask
Wol Euler: hello vertigo, long time no see.
Foxtree Gorbunov: Hi Vertigo
Vertigo Ethaniel: namaste
Gaya Ethaniel: Long time no see Vertigo, wb :)
Vertigo Ethaniel: good to see some old friends faces!
SophiaSharon Larnia: namaste Vertigo

We then enter into a tender, poignant sharing of emotions, pain, and loss shared among friends. which was very heart-rending to be a part of and I suspect to read:

Eden Haiku: A Tibetan master was teaching his student about delusions, All is emptiness and so on. Then his son died and the master was weeping.
Gaya Ethaniel: May I gingerly say that I appreciate your fondness to your friend Sharon ... it's beautiful and ... meaningful :)
SophiaSharon Larnia: smiles
Eden Haiku: The student was surprised. But Master isn't your son's death a delusion?
SophiaSharon Larnia: thank you
Gaya Ethaniel: Thank you for sharing :)
SophiaSharon Larnia: and what did the master say, i forget :)
Eden Haiku: The Master answered yes. It is a delusion. But a special one, a super-delusion.
Foxtree Gorbunov: Sharon...This person is a part of your life, so a little part of you is also dieing... You want life to have meaning... but only you can give it meaning.
Foxtree Gorbunov: Good story Eden
SophiaSharon Larnia: i refuse to accept those term....just kidding !
SophiaSharon Larnia: being confronted with impermanance in as sense of false permenance
SophiaSharon Larnia: um meant to say*and a sense*
Foxtree Gorbunov: When my dear sweet Julie die, I felt like crap. Stil do a lot of the time. But, that how I know life has meaning
Vertigo Ethaniel: having just lost someone special in my life, i think i can understand your situation
Eden Haiku: quietly acknowledges Vertigo's quiet arrival
Gaya Ethaniel: I often think about silk flowers and live flowers ... how live ones are more appreciated because of its impermanance ...
Gaya Ethaniel: Though I do like silk tuplips heheheh
Eden Haiku: Oh, sorry to hear that Vertigo.
Maxine Walden: reading these comments with tears in my eyes
Gaya Ethaniel: Sorry to hear that Vertigo ...
Vertigo Ethaniel: thank you. its been a hard time lately.
Foxtree Gorbunov: Loss is something we all have in coman
Vertigo Ethaniel: it wasnt a death, but it was a death of sorts.
Wol Euler gives your hand a squeeze.
SophiaSharon Larnia: sorry vertigo
Wol Euler nods to Fox
Maxine Walden: yes, loss can feel like a death of sorts. And yet more bearable when shared among understanding friends
Maxine Walden: as we may be doing here
Gaya Ethaniel nods.
Vertigo Ethaniel nods
Foxtree Gorbunov: nods to Maxine
Foxtree Gorbunov: That the two big things in life: Death and Sex
--BELL--

After the bell, at the top of the hour, when several of us have to go the conversation continues with everyone glad to see Storm's appearance

SophiaSharon Larnia: In looking for meaning are we denying impermance?
Vertigo Ethaniel: it takes a long, long time to deal with the change that comes with a great loss... answerrs dont always come easily
Wol Euler: happy new year, storm
SophiaSharon Larnia: Hi Storm :)
Gaya Ethaniel: Hello Storm :)
Storm Nordwind: Hi everyone and thanks!
Maxine Walden: Not at all denying impermanence, it seems to me.
Qt Core: hi Storm and bye all, i have to go
SophiaSharon Larnia: that is something that has been going around and around for me
Foxtree Gorbunov: storm way cool
Vertigo Ethaniel: storm, good to see you, long time
Wol Euler: bye qt
SophiaSharon Larnia: bye Qt
Gaya Ethaniel: Bye Qt
Foxtree Gorbunov: b
Maxine Walden: Afraid I have to go; this is a wonderful conversation; I look forward to reading the rest of it when I post the log.
Wol Euler: bye maxine, take care
SophiaSharon Larnia: bye Maxine :)
Gaya Ethaniel: Bye Maxine :)
Maxine Walden: bye all. See you soon
Vertigo Ethaniel: good bye maxine,
Eden Haiku: This last silence was so rich of meaning for me. Thank you Maxine for opening up that space.As I wanted to switch to Being Seing during the 90 secs, I thought of this beautiful metaphor of PaB sessions Stve gave at the guardians meeting this morning: like a flock of birds in formation.

Eden brings back a beautiful image, metaphor, which carries the conversation for awhile

SophiaSharon Larnia: smiles
Foxtree Gorbunov: feeling better Sharon?
SophiaSharon Larnia has always been one to fly out of formation :)
Gaya Ethaniel: In what sense Sharon?
Vertigo Ethaniel: i can relate to that
Foxtree Gorbunov: not as sad...maybe?
Eden Haiku: Some birds get stranded for a while, always ;-)
Eden Haiku: The the flock reforms somehow...
SophiaSharon Larnia: i associate a flock of birds with group think :)
Gaya Ethaniel: ah :)
Eden Haiku: I see it more as a synchronizing of souls.
SophiaSharon Larnia: and have usually been off flying who knows where ;p
Eden Haiku: It happens sometimes.
SophiaSharon Larnia: yes Eden :)
Eden Haiku: Soemtimes we feel locked in... is that something like that you feel Sharon?
Gaya Ethaniel: :)
Eden Haiku: In a kind of personal bunker?
Foxtree Gorbunov: I associate a flock of birds with cleaning my car after thay fly over
Eden Haiku: ;-)
Vertigo Ethaniel: perhaps both locked in, and at the same time not an accepted part of the flock
Vertigo Ethaniel: i feel that way sometimes
Eden Haiku: Yes, me too.
SophiaSharon Larnia: no, sometimes just doesnt matter to me what others are doing, i look and do what i feel like, within modern societal parameters of course
Wol Euler nods.
Eden Haiku: Lucky you!
Eden Haiku: I have rebel-envy!
Foxtree Gorbunov: Let hear it for societal parameters.
SophiaSharon Larnia: its not about rebeling, that an emotional reaction
Storm Nordwind: Sounds to me that SophiaSharon is neither a rebel nor a conformist
Gaya Ethaniel: I do that more often these day because I feel less concerned about what others may think.

And the sense of strength emerges

SophiaSharon Larnia: it doesnt matter to me
Vertigo Ethaniel: agnostic to social pressure
SophiaSharon Larnia: i go with the flow definately when the call for it exists
SophiaSharon Larnia: a real call, like at work
SophiaSharon Larnia: im on board
Vertigo Ethaniel: thats good - that means your sense of reason is well defined
SophiaSharon Larnia: but for some things pppffht
SophiaSharon Larnia: laughs
Gaya Ethaniel: :)
Eden Haiku: pppffht:looks like a good skill!
SophiaSharon Larnia: giggles
Wol Euler: :)
Foxtree Gorbunov: :)
Eden Haiku: I'm making a note: pppffht.;-)
Gaya Ethaniel: :)
Foxtree Gorbunov: pppffht...hahaha
Storm Nordwind advises Eden that the number of p's, f's and t's is variable, according to circumstance
Gaya Ethaniel: lol
Wol Euler: heheheh
SophiaSharon Larnia: ah yes Storm! lol
Eden Haiku: ppppppfffffht*****Storm!
Gaya Ethaniel: :)
Storm Nordwind: The student becomes enlightened!
Eden Haiku: When you meet the Buddha, kill him!

And then the sense of caring, perhaps comforting...even in a bit comfort food

SophiaSharon Larnia: oh i would hug him and them make him dinner lol
Storm Nordwind laughs
Wol Euler: he probably hasn't had a good meal in ages.
Gaya Ethaniel: :)
Eden Haiku: That is: if you meet the Buddha, rather...
SophiaSharon Larnia: right?
Gaya Ethaniel ponders what she'd do if meeting Buddha ...
--BELL--
Foxtree Gorbunov: What did Buddha do to you Eden...He seem like a nice sort to me...For a guy born to be a warlord and all...Then come up with a new way of thinking
Vertigo Ethaniel: poignant point to consider before silence.. lol
Eden Haiku: This is a saying of the Buddha himself.
Foxtree Gorbunov: Oh....that right...I forgot how it goes
Storm Nordwind: The point is that you would still be perceiving duality, separateness. It is the duality you have to kill
Eden Haiku: Buddha said: "Embrace nothing: If you meet the Buddha, kill the Buddha...."
Wol Euler: ah

Gaya introduces the notion of baking a cake rather than killing the Buddha, and the conversation in some joy and fun turns to comfort food perhaps also as a way to soften and offer comfort following the more painful explorations earlier in the discussion

Gaya Ethaniel: ah ok ... I was thinking which cake to bake for a tea party with Buddha ... ^^;;;
Foxtree Gorbunov: I still working on some of Ben Frankin saying
SophiaSharon Larnia: lol Gaya!
Gaya Ethaniel: :)
Storm Nordwind: Which cake would it be Gaya?
Gaya Ethaniel grins ... a tough choice!
Eden Haiku: I'm sure he likes scones!
Storm Nordwind chuckles
Gaya Ethaniel: lol
SophiaSharon Larnia: something with honey :)
Vertigo Ethaniel: the cake which is not a cake
Foxtree Gorbunov: Scones are good
Eden Haiku: Would you invite us Gaya?
SophiaSharon Larnia: laughs
Gaya Ethaniel: nah Buddha all for myself heheheh
Eden Haiku: So we could kill him and stay out of duality?
Storm Nordwind: Only if he gives us his cake first!
SophiaSharon Larnia: ooh lol
Gaya Ethaniel laughs!
Foxtree Gorbunov: Kill him with kindness?
Eden Haiku: Eat his cake and want it too hey, Greedy Buddha!
Wol Euler struggles to find a joke in "have your cake and eat it" and "duality" ...
SophiaSharon Larnia: yes! haha
Gaya Ethaniel giggles.
Gaya Ethaniel: A cake that can be named is not an unchanging cake.
Storm Nordwind stands (or sits) corrected
Vertigo Ethaniel: you cannot give cake to others without first having cake yourself
Foxtree Gorbunov: I wish....The cake always changes
Gaya Ethaniel: So sorry guys, I can't tell you what cake I will be baking.
Eden Haiku: Mysterious Gaya....
Gaya Ethaniel wonders ... did the joke make sense?
Foxtree Gorbunov: something simple
Gaya Ethaniel: Dao that can be named is not unchanging dao -- Dao De Ching
Storm Nordwind: The sudden switch to Daoism always makes sense Gaya!
Gaya Ethaniel: Refers to ... non duality
Storm Nordwind: So ... not a layer cake then? ;)
SophiaSharon Larnia: ahhhh
Foxtree Gorbunov: But the mix is always diffent
Gaya Ethaniel: rofl
Wol Euler: :)
Wol Euler: Cake as Being
SophiaSharon Larnia: yes a layered cake... perfect!
Gaya Ethaniel: No guess an angel cake won't fit.
SophiaSharon Larnia: laughs
Foxtree Gorbunov: Maybe a pan cake
Eden Haiku: A morphing cake for the Buddha.Will you host your tea party as a bunny or as a cat Gaya?
Storm Nordwind observes Fox's clever pun on pan
Gaya Ethaniel: lol why not Foxtree ... a perfectly round pancake ... :)
Eden Haiku: ;-)
Gaya Ethaniel: Like Giotto's O ... ^^;;; better start practising in that case Foxtree!
Eden Haiku: Dos anyone remember where we started?
Gaya Ethaniel: At the end?
SophiaSharon Larnia: smiles, the end
Gaya Ethaniel: Sorry silly mood ...
Foxtree Gorbunov: There is no end
Storm Nordwind: There is no start then :)
SophiaSharon Larnia: cheers to silly mood
Vertigo Ethaniel: only new cakes
Foxtree Gorbunov: just new beginings
Eden Haiku: It is a poor kind of memory that only remembers backwards said the Queen.
Gaya Ethaniel: lol Wol
Storm Nordwind: Yes Eden!!
Gaya Ethaniel: Whether a cat or bunny not sure Eden :)
Foxtree Gorbunov: it is time to talk of many things, of....
Storm Nordwind: shoes and ships and sealing wax
SophiaSharon Larnia: the real?
Gaya Ethaniel: ?
Wol Euler: and whether pigs have wings.
Foxtree Gorbunov: and the un real
SophiaSharon Larnia: smiles
Eden Haiku: And the solidity.
Foxtree Gorbunov: that is call Cincinnati
Eden Haiku: Standing on firm ground. Breaking new ground.
Vertigo Ethaniel: reality vs unreality
Foxtree Gorbunov: or frying pan cakes
Foxtree Gorbunov: maybe baking pan cakes...
Eden Haiku: For Buddha,
Foxtree Gorbunov: that would be diffent
Gaya Ethaniel: Sorry for a silly question but what is your favourite cake?
Eden Haiku: For Gay's tea party with Buddha.
SophiaSharon Larnia: anyone Gaya?
Gaya Ethaniel: Yes everyone :)
SophiaSharon Larnia: the kind with a pudding layer :)
--BELL--
Foxtree Gorbunov: Saddly I have never come to a cake I did not like
SophiaSharon Larnia: laughs
Gaya Ethaniel: :)
Foxtree Gorbunov: sorry. spoke to soon there....my bad
Gaya Ethaniel: Pudding layer? You mean like chocolate fondant Sharon?
Storm Nordwind: Anything with butter icing and without fruit.
Gaya Ethaniel: ah
SophiaSharon Larnia: well, i dont know what that is im that cultured you see, but it sounds like something i would love
Eden Haiku: My favorite was my grandma's dates cake. Reflected on that during the pause.
Gaya Ethaniel: lol Storm ... Dundee cake
SophiaSharon Larnia: im not*
Vertigo Ethaniel: i dont like cake
Wol Euler: mozartkuchen: chocolatey icing, lots of rum
Vertigo Ethaniel takes cover
SophiaSharon Larnia: im thinking more comfort food like when i was a child
Foxtree Gorbunov: Cheese cak
Foxtree Gorbunov: cake
Gaya Ethaniel nods ... how food provokes memories and feelings.
SophiaSharon Larnia: i close my eyes and i am still eating it
Eden Haiku: hummmm
Storm Nordwind: Maybe a Zen master would like an upside-down pudding?
Eden Haiku: lol
Wol Euler laughs!
Foxtree Gorbunov: hehehe
Gaya Ethaniel giggles.
SophiaSharon Larnia: :)
Wol Euler: with plums.
Foxtree Gorbunov: oh...Wol
Gaya Ethaniel closes eyes and start eating some comfort foods :)
Eden Haiku: Sugar is supposed to be good to nurture the shakti.
Foxtree Gorbunov: Confort food is high in fat
Wol Euler: funny, my comfort foods are savoury rather than sweet. Buttery cheese omelettes, corned beef hash and rice
Eden Haiku: Who cares Fox? Our avatars stay slim!
SophiaSharon Larnia: oh Eden, then i must be especially empowered
Storm Nordwind: No it's the reverse Fox: Fatty food is high in comfort!
Wol Euler: mmhmm
Foxtree Gorbunov: ture....
Gaya Ethaniel: My comfort foods seem to relate to those often eaten with close people, nice occasions.
SophiaSharon Larnia: oh wait, this is sugger free :)
SophiaSharon Larnia: yes
Foxtree Gorbunov: Not all the time Gaya
Gaya Ethaniel: ?
Foxtree Gorbunov: Back in my Navy days, Comfort food was alway in demand
Eden Haiku: Birthday cakes!
Gaya Ethaniel: :)
Foxtree Gorbunov: One Birthday at the start of each month. If your brithday was in that month you got cake
Gaya Ethaniel: Enjoyed chatting with you all but must get going :)
Foxtree Gorbunov: take care Gaya
Gaya Ethaniel: Good day/night!
SophiaSharon Larnia: bye Gaya!
Eden Haiku: NIce to see you Gaya. happy New year!
Gaya Ethaniel: Yes Happy New Year to all again :)
Vertigo Ethaniel: aww ok
Storm Nordwind waves
Vertigo Ethaniel: see ya later gaya, great to see you again
Wol Euler: bye gaya, take care
SophiaSharon Larnia: has to go too :) take care everyone !
Wol Euler: bye sharon, take care.
SophiaSharon Larnia: waves
Eden Haiku: Bye SophiaSharon! Enjoy your evening!
Vertigo Ethaniel: damn
Foxtree Gorbunov: After a mission, the helocoter guy always wanted stuff like mac-and-chees...Bey
Vertigo Ethaniel: these people leave too quickly
Vertigo Ethaniel: i cant even type goodbe
Wol Euler: :)
Storm Nordwind must seek out some chocolate brownie to have with cream and ice cream
Wol Euler: mmmmmmmmmm
Foxtree Gorbunov: oh, that sounds good
Eden Haiku: Interesting Fox, the food was a comfort for these tough guys?
Vertigo Ethaniel: wol, how have you been?
Foxtree Gorbunov: The hunt for chocolate is on...
Vertigo Ethaniel: how is life treating you?
Foxtree Gorbunov: A lot of times Eden
Wol Euler: pretty well, thanks. I'm jetlagging at thte moment, but that will pass.
Eden Haiku: waves to Storm who seems to be about leaving.
Storm Nordwind slips away quitely on his quest
Storm Nordwind waves
Wol Euler: bye storm, take care
Vertigo Ethaniel: see ya storm
Foxtree Gorbunov: bye storm
Vertigo Ethaniel: thats great wol, did you go overseas?
Wol Euler: I was in Toronto for christmas, with my parents and sister's family
Vertigo Ethaniel: ah yep
Vertigo Ethaniel: i too just got back from staying with my family
Foxtree Gorbunov: Christmas is fun with family
Eden Haiku: Sometimes when I'm jetlagged, I have the feeling my astral body is still overseas while my physical body is where I am.
Vertigo Ethaniel: back to the real world... ugh
Wol Euler: yeah, really
Eden Haiku: Are you working tomorrow Wol?
Wol Euler: yes but: thet office is officially closed so there will be peace and quiet, and a short day
Foxtree Gorbunov: too short
Eden Haiku: Nice. Time to adjust then.
Vertigo Ethaniel: mmm
Vertigo Ethaniel: i have issues adjusting
Foxtree Gorbunov: It is hard to come back form Christimas
Eden Haiku: yes Vertigo?
Vertigo Ethaniel: i cant seem to deal with big changes
Vertigo Ethaniel: very well
Vertigo Ethaniel: which is why this discussion today was so interesting to me
Foxtree Gorbunov: changes are hard
Eden Haiku: Tell us more Vertigo.
--BELL--

And then the issue of change and return to work after the holidays

Vertigo Ethaniel: i guess i am comfortable in my existance, and dont want to move on
Foxtree Gorbunov: well. I have to go back to school, and at 43 years old, I not comfortable. But, I have to start a new life after the bakery that I work at closes down.
Vertigo Ethaniel: thats good foxtree, you are taking steps to address a bad situation
Wol Euler nods. Best to go into that with your eyes open, than wait for the train to hit you.
Vertigo Ethaniel: i need to do the same...
Eden Haiku: Oh, I see what you mean. Usually, it is to start which is difficult,
Eden Haiku: then after the fisrt step taken, it becomes easier.
Vertigo Ethaniel: trouble is, i keep getting reminders of what was, and its very hard to deal with that
Wol Euler nods.
Eden Haiku: yes
Vertigo Ethaniel: whether those reminders come from inside, or outside
Foxtree Gorbunov: It is sort of like shoes: It take forever to get them to feel right, then that last for a bout a week and you have to give up becouse thay hurt your feet
Foxtree Gorbunov: Vertigo: Change is the only unchanging in the world. It is also the fear of not knowing what comes next
Wol Euler: my dears, I must move on, another appointment awaits. Take care, enjoy your changes.
Eden Haiku: Bye Wol! Take care!
Wol Euler: bye for now
Vertigo Ethaniel: good to see you again wol
Foxtree Gorbunov: take care Wol
Foxtree Gorbunov: bye Eden
Eden Haiku: I also have to leave. I had to write a to-do list...which i didn't write ;-) Bye for now! And good luck both of you !