Love Is...

1 Corinthians 13:4-8

The Micol Kraft Day

'REMIX' version

Love is patient

(But knows when the time is right to make a move.)

Love is kind

(But is no push-over)

Love is not jealous

(Much)

Love is not boastful

(But knows its worth)

It is not arrogant or rude

(But will not be walked all over by those who are)

Love does not insist on its own way

(But stands up for equality)

It is not irritable or resentful

(But quickly course-corrects if it is)

It does not rejoice at wrong, but rejoices in the right

(But also studies the grey areas)

Love bears all things

(But sets appropriate boundaries)

Believes all things

(But tests for truth and logic)

Hopes all things

(But sets realistic goals)

Endures all things

(But knows its limitation)

Love never ends

(No buts about it)

Wondering if I will be read

Ready for Production

By Micol Kraft Day

I am a story

I am a script

I had more of a point

'Til you red-penned and clipped

You turned my phrases

And shattered their meaning

Your editors paid

To give me a beating

I should have been bold

Telling and shocking

But you've left me lifeless

A dead script walking

Puny and weak

Original vanished

More so when translated

Into German, French and Spanish

So why was I written

Why bother to pen me

When no one will see

What the author put in me

Fantasy Pit Falls

There is a dangerous game some people play with their children.

It is a make-believe world of puppets, costume, sexting, internet chatting, role-playing games, fantasy leagues and other such personality-splitting behaviors.

I have witnessed firsthand, parents encouraging their children to create alter-egos and separate identities. Blurring the lines between reality and imagination with the unfortunate result of eradicating guilt of wrongdoing or any sense of impropriety or fear when playtime crosses over into the realm of a sexual fantasy being played out.

We adults, being the more mature individuals, need to be the voice of reason, recognize it for what it is and put an early end to the psychologically damaging effects of fracturing the human ego and creating environments ripe for abuse.

Teach your children to be themselves. To be happy being themselves. Show them that you love them for who they are and let others be drawn to their own natural light.

Honestly, fantasy-land in general needs to get an overhaul if we're going to be happy and healthy generations from now.

Control Freaks of the world, Unite! (At precisely 10:16.5 A.M.)

I hear you. Really, I do.

You want order and control.

You don't want anyone to be out of step.

You hate clutter and disorderliness.

Dirt bothers you.

You wish everything could be 'just washed'.

You despise disobedience, or at least others getting away with it.

You love rules and keeping them.

You may even create them just so you can keep them.

Compartmentalizing, classifying, stereotyping, judging, weighing.

It's what you do best.

Well, I could just become liquid and slip right through your fingers.

I could turn into sand and escape through the cracks.

I could evaporate into gas and drift through the air.

Free.

Without boundaries.

Birds, bees, bullfrogs, butterflies, blessings...bull?

Please help me see the both sides of this debate.

"Spare the 'rod' and spoil the child."

I hear someone speaking out in the media about the benefit of these methods. (For instance, so obviously in the Disney movie "Chronicles of Narnia, The Dawn Treader".) I can only hope that my feelings on the matter can add another view to the debate. Please know that I understand the 'long-standing tradition' emphasis put on all of this as it has been passed down from man to boy forever and I am completely open to any debate about human sexuality and its evolution.

But among other things, you're going to have to provide proof that 'pranking', 'tagging a$$es' or 'blessing' someone is not harmful, but beneficial to anyone, especially minors.

You'll have to prove that it's not actually turning males against pro-creative, opposite-sex relationships. (Or is that in the 'population control' plan?)

You'll have to prove that it does not create severe dysfunctional sexual hang-ups later in life.

You'll have to prove that it does not facilitate age disparity in future relationships, as well as low self-esteem issues.

I just need to say that, speaking from experience, when you 'discipline', 'tag' or 'rape' someone, you transfer anger to your 'victim'. I call them a victim because you're inflicting not only physical pain, but possible irreparable damage to their psyches as the need for that strong sense of anger as the most dominant emotion will drive their choices in mates. Surely you can see that in later sexual encounters, they will have a longing to feel that same emotion again in a subconscious, self-loathing, or guilt complex fashion. The emotional signature you emit and leave behind usurps love as the driving force in relationships and encourages future domestic violence. The 'love' emotion and connection will no longer register very high on their emotional scale, and what you do in moderation, your disciples will do in excess.

When you dominate physically to get loyalty, respect and your own sense of power, it conveys the use of brute force as an admirable thing and instills in impressionable minds that it is the preferred method of solving problems in life, not logic and reason.

Or...do you still think, as in prehistoric times, that it is the only way we as a species will survive? I think it is obvious that it will be through intelligence, not brute strength, that we will prolong the life-sustaining capacity of Planet Earth and keep the human species alive, perhaps even after the death of the planet.

The Owl goes...Hoo-Hoo!

Questions For The Owls

by Micol Kraft Day

Who will take from them what they have made

Who will roll the incriminating film

Who will have strength to lead the parade Of witnesses and victims

Who will divulge

Uncover

Expose

And then who will care to do justice

Who will truly protect and serve

When they all have a hand in

Who will listen

Who will believe it

Who will take that great of a loss

Who will turn over their own wealth or power to go up against the big boss

Who will say enough is enough

Who will take evidence

Who will realize that it's not their fault

But the fault of the big machine

Who will rip the family ties

Who will be the champion

Who will care more for the masses

Than they do for themselves

For the greater good is why I ask

Who will give their lives to speak out against them?

The Crooked Tree

If I were on the hit list of a thousand and one marauders
If the lynch mob's torches burned for only me
'Twould be worth the saving of even one son or daughter
From the grasping, greedy clutches of their crooked family tree

-Micol Kraft Day

This poem is dedicated to all those in situations where the family, tribe, society, club or group has so oppressed and brainwashed them beyond their own wills that they don't even know that they are being used and abused.

I pray that you will look inside yourself and find the strength to break free. I also pray that those trapped into repeating the cycle themselves will seek help.

For those with knowledge of abuse, sticking your head in the sand is the coward's way out. If you know of it, report it. If you get nowhere with your local authorities, go higher. Sometimes it seems so futile, and corruption seems to go all the way to the top, but don't let that stop you. Keep trying. Praying is good, but there are too many people praying for God to 'set the captives free' and they do nothing more to help. Take a stand! Make it known.

Things that go poof in the night

I've had several dreams that have woken me up out of a sound sleep lately. Here's one I had tonight. (It's almost 3:00 am as I am writing this)



I was in a hospital or doctor's office for a non-emergency medical issue of some sort.



I somehow knew the admitting nurse taking my vital statistics.



I became aware that she was doing something extra, in a bit of a panic-stricken mode.



She injected me with a needle in my lower side and started to inflate my abdomen with air.



She told me that she was taking me to the Maternity Ward and I was to act like I was pregnant.



She said it was so that she could get the drugs that they were going to prescribe for pain.



She threatened me if I didn't go along with the plan.



I told her that they were going to figure out the deception before they gave me any drugs.



This did not stop her and it only made her more panicky.



She wheeled me into the Maternity Ward and left me alone with the nurse there for a minute.



I quickly told the nurse what was happening, but saw her face go white, as she told me that the



Other nurse had returned and was standing just behind me.



I expected her to become violent and try to kill me, but instead, she just turned and ran away.





I could take this dream to mean several things, but mostly, I think the moral is:



Don't eat beans so close to bedtime.

Our Senses

I have keen senses. I've always been an observer of minute details when it comes to reading people. I never really understood what kind of skill that was exactly. Until recently, that is, when I began to understand that our bodies are created with all kinds of sensors and chemical triggers that are naturally occurring and a lot less ethereal than people make them out to be.

Now before I get any responses from spiritualists, ghost-whisperers, prophets or psychics, please be aware that I'm ONLY referring to natural chemical reactions and subsequent processing of that chemical information by our brains rather than any extra-sensory perceptions, so please do be open to what I have to say, as I'm not exactly going to knock one of your beliefs. Maybe you could see it as an addition only.

People have 'tells'. Gestures, expressions, changes in blood pressure, involuntary bodily reactions, and the most obvious, their words with which to communicate. They also have a more subtle form of communication. Chemicals that leave their bodies and float in the air, are able to be picked up and analyzed by another human or animal. It's been well-documented that dogs, for instance, can easily smell fear, danger and sometimes illnesses from these chemicals.

Have you ever seen a nature show where the mother gazelle is alerted of danger when it could still be miles away? Those ears perk up. The nose starts twitching. She senses the predator and can get her little ones to safety. Hopefully. (It's always sad when it doesn't end up that way.)

Then, there's the whole pheromone thing, of course. Their eyes meet across a crowded room. The attraction is so thick and tangible, it seems that you can cut it with a knife. That's because you CAN cut it with a knife! That's a scent, baby! It's a chemical. It's biological. It's not your imagination. You're feeling that feeling because someone is throwing off a chemical signal. Now, let the wife catch a whiff of that scent when she walks into the same room and...you're liable to be running as fast as that gazelle!

Our ears are amazing, too. You may have heard someone talking outside or in another room, not due to some 'super power' hearing, but through undetectable sound waves. Your brain still processes these sounds subconsciously. You may not be able to fully process the conversation in your mind, but you are left with an impression. Your brain keeps it on the shelf for future reference.

Now, there may be those who fear that all of this will lead people on some sort of a witch hunt and cause people to start projecting their fears onto others, or casting blame on others unjustly. Truthfully, there is always that danger when you're learning how to read people. We must learn to keep everything in check with reality and realize that everyone is indeed, innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Only, let it be known, that you will have opposition, as not everyone stands to benefit from these built-in relays and receptors. From pedophiles to poker players, there are those who would rather that you not develop your natural abilities to sense danger...or a bluff.

If you do make the decision to do something constructive with this greater awareness, and follow me into this journey into further self-awareness and a greater understanding of our senses, I have a few things that I have found to be extremely important to share with you.

Most importantly, keep your senses clear by doing the following:

Eliminate caffeine (You heard me right! Including chocolate and all teas and coffees but decaf. I only drink water.)
Significantly reduce sugar intakes. (It's hard to eliminate ALL sugars, but do your best.)
Reduce processed foods to a minimum. (I rarely eat them anymore)
Cook fresh foods instead of eating out.
Stay regular. (flushed of toxins)
Stay hydrated with filtered tap water. (preferred over bottled water that leaches chemicals)
Identify and eliminate air and food allergens that rob your sense of smell and make you tired.
Avoid perfumes and detergents that mask natural odors.
Of course, don't smoke, do drugs, or drink alcoholic beverages.

Have a comment? Leave one!

Keeping it real,

Micol

The Compass

I have been searching for a new job. It's really difficult to choose a path when I have such varied interests and skills, not to mention the potential to go back to school and learn a new trade altogether. The 'overwhelming' feeling of it all has brought to mind a dream from my childhood.

As a little girl, I had a recurring nightmare. In the dream, I found myself floating on a sea of arctic ice, with the calm, brilliantly-blue sea peaking out from under the puzzle-like slabs. I could easily walk from one slab to the next, as they were spaced closely enough together for safe travel by foot. Oddly enough, I didn't get the sense of being cold. It was completely quiet and surreal. The skies were crisp and midnight blue. There were no storms or waves threatening to toss me into a watery grave, nor abominable creature from which to escape.

How could such a serene surrounding inspire in me a terrible sense of fear?

As I stood there, turning to the North, South, East and West, I saw nothing but a frozen desert as far as my eyes could see. I knew that if I didn't choose the right way to start walking, I would be hopelessly lost and eventually die of starvation. It was a paralyzing fear. I could not start walking for fear of going in the wrong direction. I was trapped, yet I was completely free to leave at the same time.

I realize that in chosing my career, I must move forward this time. Not just for my own sake, but for the sake of my small daughter, now traveling with me into the vast expanse. She looks to me for direction. Trusting that I will know which path to take to lead us to safety. I must have the strength to say to her,

"Fear of the unknown must not stop us.
Fear of false steps must not stop us.
Fear of failure must not stop us."

I'm not afraid to move forward, for I have found my compass.

On the back is inscribed...

'Mother'

When I Am Free

Do you ever wonder why I stay,

When I am so controlled and stifled?

Do you wonder why I stay,

Midst your jealousy and rage?

My dream is that some day,

You will get bored with me and let me go.

Perhaps a rescuer will come and free me from your grasp.

Your soft, pseudo-caring grasp.

Your selfish, greedy, hoarding clutches that keep me all to yourself.

One day I will be free.

Though you will still control me,

For I will always love my beautiful, soft, manipulating captor...

Even when I am free

-Micol Kraft Day


I write this poem for those who are unable to express these feelings. I feel your pain, and you are in my prayers.

Love,
Micol

Doing the Mending

Yes, it's true. One of my favorite quotes is:

Use it up

Wear it out

Make it do

Or do without

That's an old saying from the Great Depression Era, I understand. Seems pretty appropriate in these times of repression, as well!

I was reminded of the quote yesterday, as I fixed the strap on one of my shoes with some super-strong glue. I thought of it again today as I stitched up an undergarment of mine that still has a lot of wear left in it, but had had a small rip.

I also like the saying, 'A stitch in time saves nine'.

I recall watching a cartoon when I was a little girl where Bugs Bunny sings,

"A stitch in time...will save nine...especially with a needle fine!"

I love to sing it to myself when I do some small repair job.

Do you get the moral behind that little ditty? If you repair a small hole with one stitch, it will save you from having to make many more stitches to repair the hole as it gets larger with wear and washing. As a fiber artist, I can truly understand why they used to darn socks and mend their precious handmade garments when they acquired holes.

We are all a bit more unattached to our pre-fab store-bought garments these days, but still, I would encourage you to set aside your mending projects in a little basket and pull it out as you wind down for the day. Work on your mending as they did back when there were no 'disposable clothes' or mass-produced goods. It should make you feel extra-proud to be so prudent, even though you may be able to afford to replace the item.

If someone asks you why you don't just go out any buy another one, you can wisely say,

"Waste not, want not!"


Hugs to the recyclers,

RecycleMicol

Dreams Do Come True

Here are shots of our banner and business cards for our fibertherapy group! http://www.fibertherapy.org/ The background is actually white. The photos were taken in the shade, so the colors are off, but you get the idea. We appreciate the hard work of the lovely people who made these promos and our new website possible:

My sister, Rachel Kraft, artist and graphic designer extraordinaire.

My husband, Cory Day, supporter of the arts, layouts/webmaster, and financier.

Joe and Jessica Dougherty, owners of Funky Finds, promotional goods providers and promoters of indie artists everywhere.

For your generous support, we thank you!

Fiber Therapy at Fort Worth's Spring Fling Arts Festival this Saturday!

Don't forget that this Saturday from 10am-6pm is the Funky Finds Spring Fling!http://funkyfinds.us/springfling The indoor event will showcase the work of over 130 talented artisans providing consumers the opportunity to find hand-crafted one-of-a-kind gifts, unique accessories, fashionable attire, home dècor and more.

Our local www.fibertherapy.org group will be there giving out FREE knitting and crochet kits and training to the first 50 students who sign up, as well as weaving, spinning (yarn making) and fiber preparation demonstrations.

WHEN: 10 am-6 pm, Saturday, April 25, 2009

WHERE: Will Rogers Memorial Center, 3409 Burnett-Tandy Drive, Fort Worth, TX 76107

COST: Free

ABOUT THE EVENT:

The family and pet-friendly event will feature a raffle benefiting Humane Society of North Texas, Tarrant Area Food Bank, and Aflac Cancer Center. The first 50 people to purchase a $1 raffle ticket will receive "go green" swag bags hand-crafted by the Dallas Craft Mafia full of funky goods. The Humane Society will also be on-hand facilitating pet adoptions.

The Spring Fling is a terrific way to celebrate Earth Day as many vendors create recycled and upcycled goods. Eco-conscious shoppers will appreciate having over 100 shops in one location eliminating the waste of time and gasoline driving around town.

Attend the Funky Finds Spring Fling on April 25 and celebrate handmade goods and independent artisans. Proud sponsors include Wimberley Enterprises, Inc., Cabbage Rose, Dallas Craft Mafia, Shop Shop Designs, Polka Dot Potato, Sublime Stitching, Craft Gossip and Handmade Parade.

ABOUT FUNKY FINDS: Funky Finds is a company dedicated to promoting independent artists, crafters and designers. Founded in 2006 by Jessica Dougherty and now run with husband Joseph Dougherty, Funky Finds features funky handmade goods on a daily basis. Visit our website for the latest finds at http://funkyfinds.us.

Shall I?

Shall I?

Shall I be honest
Shall I be bold
Shall I be brave
Reveal secrets untold
Shall I have gumption enough to unfold
The thoughts of the oft-foggy
Past that I hold

-Micol Kraft Day

Rose Hip Surprise!

My darling sister Rachel surprised me with a care package of Rose Hips for my tea time today!

Thanks, dear heart!

The Dish and the Spoon

Art by our five year old. So cool!

Digit Face

My Mr. Acorn Hat was featured for a short while (24 hrs?) on Digit Face! He is French. He likes to help me make Yarny Acorn Favors. (Tutorial in my Vox collections and in my Flickr sets. (RecycleMicol user ID)

http://digitface.com/?p=1468

Thanks!
-RM

Yeast in the morning, Sailor take warning!

So...I'm adding yeast to one of the things that irritates my stomach. It's actually a common enough allergen or irritant. Just look up Candida in any search engine to learn more about it. Basically for me, after I eat yeast breads, I feel as if it is still rising right inside my tummy! I have to go lie down for all the discomfort that ensues, although there are drops that I could take three times a day to combat it if I wanted to keep tossing it down my gullet.

However, to save around $30.00 a month and the hassle of having to remember to take them, I'll simply cut WAY down. (Actually, I already have...that's why I can tell that it's the yeast that is effecting me when I do eat it.)

There are a bevy of 'Quick Breads' that I could make to have my bready-cravings met, such as scones, tortillas, some flat breads without yeast, biscuits, even unsweetened crepes, so I'm really not out any indulgence, but for every day, no-hassle and lower-fat fare...

I'm now having fun trying out different kinds of crackers! I picked these up at the market a few days ago and I really like them. You have to look at the labels, as some crackers, even in this same line, have a bunch of preservatives and/or sugar, which are taboo in my book.

Using crackers as a substitute is actually quite nice! You get to play around with adding your favorite tidbits to them and trying out new and unique foods that you might not have tried before. There are lots of recipes on-line and in my cookbooks to give me ideas if I get bored.

But...how could I get bored?! Having 'appetizers' all the time instead of just at the occasional party makes me feel pretty 'Ritzy'. Hee-hee!

STUFF TO THINK ABOUT

Do we need to keep up with the Jones's?

I don't have a strong desire to have things like expensive jewelry, over-sized homes, high-end cars, etc. until I see others possessing it or putting a lot of stock into it. I will see things in the stores or catalogs and think they are cool and all, but until I see someone personally enjoying something they have, it doesn't really bring out the envy or jealousy in me. Because I recognize this pattern, I know how to temper my feelings about it. I can bring myself back down to earth and be happy that I haven't let that kind of behavior get the best of me. It is a base instinct and I'm glad that I am not a slave to it.


Does anyone really need marble counter-tops?

The whole planned obsolescence model set before us in society leads me to think that there's something wrong with my laminated kitchen counter-tops. Sure, the color doesn't exactly fit my current decor as I would like for it to, but they're in perfect condition, structurally. The trend setters want me to feel like I'm missing out on something if I don't rip out my counter-tops and replace them with marble or granite. They would really go after my ten-year-old, though already 'outdated', cultured marble bathroom vanity, (which is not actually made of marble, by the way) to be certain.


Will we give charity to an entity who just wants more, or those who honestly don't have enough?

Unless you find an organization who's donations are not stripped down to pennies on the dollar after cutting everyone's salary checks and paying the bills, can't you just find a family in dire straights to bless, or some fixed-income retiree who has to choose between buying their medications or buying healthy food? I have been to some churches who don't even give to individual families anymore. They refer people to a clothing closet or food bank if they need help. The church board decides which outside charities to give to, but only after paying for all the salaries, utilities, real estate developement and improvements. It's hard to know which charities are really helping the needy more than they are themselves. But, then I think, what would it be like if we had no charities at all? Would those in need know where to go for help? Or, how would the belevolent ones know that they were giving to a truly needy family? I know that some of the 'needy' are needy because they aren't necessarily spending their money wisely throughout the month. I know people who aren't as needy as they think. I have seen people manage to get approved for food stamps when they drive two new vehicles and already have a vacation at Disney World planned within the same month. So, I suppose entities may be necessary to weed out those undeserving of our charity. I imagine with the way I would try to run a charitable organization, it might not last very long, so I'll just try my best to find the one run with the most prudence, the most heart and the most transparency when it comes to donating my money.


Will we or our children feel pressured to get wealth by ill-gotten gains, or by any means other than hard work?

I know...it's pounded into our brains: "Work smarter, not harder!" We read books on how to not pay our taxes or find ways to beat the system and get something for nothing. I would ask, is it worth it if you to have to...grease palms, make questionable business deals, keep quiet when you know someone else is stealing, live in fear that you'll lose your job if you do this or don't do that unethical thing, risk losing your family, show a poor example to others, teach your children that cheating is the way to make it in this world, gamble away your and your family's future, take food out of other people's mouths to get ahead, run from the law, run from the other side of the law, put your family in danger, etc.?

Or, can you just walk away from it, no matter how much you think it's going to be worth to you in money or position, before it's too late?


Should we use our influence and magnetism to benefit only ourselves?

People with strong personalities can usually find a way to get what they want. I am a strong personality, who happens to want to be used more to bless others than be blessed myself. In fact, I do get blessed by seeing others' needs met. Because I don't require much to exist myself, I can happily pass along tangible things to others needing my help without really thinking about what's in it for me. This is only because I recognize my influence as something to be used for good. I can see the other side of the fence, where manipulation and greed rule over the over-confident fool's actions. These people are really quite hard to resist, because of their magnetism and charm. I recognize that they see people as a means to a desired end, and as things to be conquered until they've gotten what they want out of you, be it money, position, sex, approval or praise, loyalty, etc. If you find that you have influence over people, I hope that you can see the supreme responsibility of your actions. Be honest with yourself about how you are willing to treat others to reach your goals. If you operate through coercion and fear, you're missing out on what it takes to be genuinely respected. If you are manipulating people through flattery or charm, it's just a matter of time before they figure you out and become disenchanted. If you use your influence to see others reach their goals, rather than taking from them, and work hard at an honest profession to reach yours, then you are using your influence in the best possible way. If you do that, you will gain and keep the respect of others, know the self-respect that comes of an honest living, have money enough for your and your family, and leave a legacy of influence.

Just some stuff to think about!
-Micol