Mercury in Retrograde in the sign of Taurus: an excellent time to review the meaning of HOME IN A VARDO

That's me looking through the unfinished Dutch door of our vardo to be. 

It's winter, 2008 and we are in White Center, WA

A snippet of photos from Vardo For Two string along here as a way for us to review time and place and the meaning of "home" as Vardo Folk.  Much of life is unpredictable, and though there are plans more often than not there are adjustments.  With Mercury in Retrograde from April 17th through May 11th a relook at making a home from a vardo seemed right.

while on an 'ole day walk in West Seattle ... home means so many things 

It's Aloha Friday

Back on the Islands (the Hawaiian chain) it is "Aloha Friday."  Or at least, that's what the old Don Ho song reminds us.  Thanks to our local community public radio KSER, Pete and I enjoyed an hour of island music including the nahenahe (oh, so delightful) sounds of Darlene Ahuna and Keali`i Reichel.  An hour of music like that can calm and soothe even while it makes us homesick for white sandy beaches, warm water and family and friends. 

Ruby the old fav Sony laptop will not revive.  I have posted discussion on both The Canary Report and Planet Thrive asking for replacement feedback, suggestions and experiences from other folks with MCS.  A few people are saying a conversion from a PC to MAC made a positive difference for them; others have been very creative about designing their computing set-up to accomodate their sensitivities.  If you are interested in reading the threads of commentary, I've linked them:

Here:  The Canary Report Forum
Here:  Planet Thrive Forum

I'm standing in front of L's computer in our basement space, while Pete runs a hot shower.  The rain is thick here in Everett slanting in from the harbor while the remote controlled conveyor belt next door shoots gravel into the building site where once the old 1920's home once sat.  Life continues just as it is, Mercury is slowing moving from its retrograde, the New Moon in Capricorn is now in "Muku" phase, JOTS is nestled onto a stack of Pete's clean clothes and the Westies upstairs are making their presence know ... 'bark, bark.'

We are slowly adjusting to life just as it is, and that is a very big thing. 

Happy Aloha Friday where EVER you find yourself.
Mokihana, Pete and JOTS

Our Ruby (the laptop) has died

Ruby, our trusted old laptop is washed-out.  I did tip my morning cup of tea water all over her, and our twenty-four hours of first-aid hasn't brought her back.  Talk about your Mercury in retrograde episode.  Things will slow up here at VardoForTwo and the other flock of blogs as we figure out what's next.  Borrowing my pal L's computer to let you all know the scoops.

Pete's shopping around for new, and the possibilities of a used might work though fragranced fingertips and smelly former environments are usually a deal buster.  We'd love to know what you experiences with shopping and finding a laptop are.

Any ideas about:

• what laptops work well for you with MCS
• what has worked well for out-gassing new computers
• any sources for a good laptop
• any feedback on the screen clarity and experiences with emissions

Our wishlist for a 'Ruby II':

1.  includes a DVD for watching movies
2.  upgraded software so loading photos is possible on the blogs
3.  as large a screen as laptops can get
4.  off-gassed parts
5.  a P.C. rather than a MAC
6.  a quiet operating machine (Ruby is a Vaio by Sony, and has been such a quiet machine for 10 yrs!)
7.  a laptop that doesn't get hot when operating (that just adds to the off-gassing issues and inside a tiny space ie. our VardoForTwo ... that is trouble.)


We'd love to hear from you with ideas and experiences with your laptops; and what you did to replace it when it was time.

The search continues during Mercury in retrograde

We are back on the ledge after a whirl of a scouting trip. The good news is: we have found a wonderful friend with a generous and understanding heart. Friend was willing to let us plug into her electricity and park temporarily. The bad news is: the mold and burning in the area are a double whammy of a no-go for us. Both Pete and I were infused with the potential for FUN with this new friend living with MCS ... FUN, that is an important slice of life missing in this journey. So, you can see the glee we felt when we met and visited, got to know and like this new friend. The grief of recognizing that her friendship was not enough to dry up the mold or clear the air of smoke from home fires, outdoor burns/slash burns is something that comes with the search for safe housing.

I was losing faith this morning, stuck in the mud and reaching for answers. On the New Moon just passed (that would have been Friday, the 18th when we set off on our scouting trip) we affirmed "attachment to allies who would welcome us in this coming while." We found them in our Oregon friend and her friends ... My favorite astrologer, friend and ally turned down my money today, when I emailed her about a consultation. Instead she reminded me that Mercury, the planet of communication is still in retrograde (and will be until September 29th). Paraphrasing her, universally everyone must work double over-time to make things work and even then things will be late. Elsa said "So keep your faith and your money." That's why I count her as an ally, and we can take that communication and get on with our life, and our search.

So, today we are waxing the outside of the vardo, Pete has taken the garden boxes apart, and I keep communicating and connecting with potential allies for all I'm worth. We're doing what we need to do to prepare ourselves for a wonderful journey to our next encampment. We're on the journey to find wonderful allies and a safe winter space for us. If you have ideas, allies or a safe winter space ... we're in the market! Tomorrow Uranus (planet of sudden changes) has a thing with Mercury ... so sudden, unexpected communication happens tomorrow. Hope this is great news tomorrow.

Love this life!!xxoo M

TROUBLE WITH COMMENTS

Aloha readers, viewers, followers and family,

We may be having comment reception (is that the phrase?) difficulties here in our blog world. I'm trying to track down the possibilities and get it corrected. If you feel comfortable emailing us that works.

Sorry about any inconvenience. Is Mercury just about to stabilize and conclude the retrograde?

Thanks for visiting ... solutions soon to come (cross your fingers and toes).

Mokihana and Pete