Book Review by The Pagan and The Pen

My book 'Curiosity Expands Your Mind' received a wonderful review from The Pagan and the Pen which is a blog to support Pagan Authors, Artists, Editors, or any Pagan working in the world of Fiction & or Publishing. Please check what they had to say about my book, it is very humbling and so appreciated. Thank you Pagan & Pen!!

http://thepaganandthepen.wordpress.com/2009/12/20/book-review-curiosity-expands-your-mind-by-brenda-miller/

Book Signing

SOL REFLECTIONS INVITES YOU TO A SPECIAL EVENT
A Booksigning & chat with
BRENDA MILLER, author of CURIOSITY EXPANDS YOUR MIND, a Resource Book for Truth Seekers
This reference book is to guide you on your quest for a more magical and spiritual existence.
SATURDAY – Dec. 19th, 2009 At 2:00 PM

L I V E M U S I C BY THE AMAZING PAT McCANN
Snacks and beverages provided
Join us for a day of learning and inspiration
Storewide Sales
SOL REFLECTIONS The Liberty Center (Between Lakeway Blvd & Debba Rd.)
107 S RR620 #105, Austin Texas
512-263-6990
solreflections@att.net
http://www.solreflections.com/

Book may be purchased at SOL or from http://www.amazon.com/. Need a gift idea, Curiosity Expands Your Mind makes a great gift for your friends, family and you.

It's Not Easy Being Green - article Austin Chronicle - Austin, Texas

Tire Mound of Mystery
Thousands of city tires lie moldering southeast of town – and the city is claiming ignorance
BY JORDAN SMITH
http://www.austinchronicle.com/gyrobase/issue/story?oid=oid%3A924719

Trees for Pease

Austin's Friends of Pease Park needs our help!

In 1875, a beautiful forest gracing the west flank of Lamar Boulevard in central Austin became the city park that we call Pease Park. General George Custer, Eeyore's Birthday Party, and multitudes since have used the wonderful acreage. Now the Friends of Pease Park warn it is "severely underfunded and overused." The summer of 2009 has further harmed the park with extreme heat, drought, and windstorms.
Whole Earth is dedicated to helping raise the funds needed to plant a new generation of shade trees in Pease and to provide an automated irrigation system to serve them.

If you love Pease Park, like so many of us who have played there over the years, please make a donation to this worthy cause by sending a tax deductible contribution to:

Austin Parks Foundation
816 Congress Avenue, Suite 1680
Austin, Texas 78701.

Please make your checks payable to the Friends of Pease Park.
You can also contribute by shopping at any of the Austin Whole Earth Provision Co. stores. As you check out at the cash register, just mention to your salesperson that you'd love to donate an additional $1, $5, $10 or more. They will make it happen.

Hoping you have a Happy Holiday!
Sincerely,
Your Friends at
Whole Earth Provision Co.
http://wholeearthprovision.com/

New Beginnings! Hair Oil

New Beginnings! Hair Oil
New hair, new you, new life…WooHoo!
*Stimulates hair growth & re-growth
*Thickens hair
*Conditions scalp
$20 – 1oz/30ml                                    
To Order:
Brenda Miller
info@designsbybrenda.net
http://www.designsbybrenda.net/

Use and Tips:
• Put several drops either directly on your scalp (recommended) or in your hands. Rub/massage hair oil into your scalp; bend over while doing this to get the blood flowing to your scalp.
• Leave overnight. Wash out in the morning. Do not apply if you are planning to spend time in the sun. This is why it is recommended to use at night while sleeping. Do not leave in for more than 8 to 9 hours.
• Do this at least twice a week, but no more than four times a week, for at least two months. Take off from treatment for approx. two or three weeks, and then start back up, if needed.
• It may take two weeks before you see new growth, or longer if completely bald.
• Be careful where you apply the oil, do not let it get on your face because hair will grow or re-grow there. However, if you want hair to grow in that area, i.e. a fuller beard, try it.
• May be used on eyebrows for those of us who have over-plucked or loss due to other reasons.
• Apply to nails to make them nice and strong; they will grow fast, as well.
• Make sure you do not touch your eyes, mouth, or nose after applying. It will burn/sting. If you do get it in our eyes, flush eye(s) with cool water.
Side effects:
• May cause immediate drowsiness, so do not use if you plan to drive or operate machinery. The effects of drowsiness does wear off, it is not a prolonged effect. (See above tip as for best time to apply oil)
• Product thickens hair.
• Promotes calmness, stress reducer, and sleep improvement.
• Memory enhancement or more clarity of mind (chases away the fogginess).
• Conditions your scalp and hair.
• Immunity booster.

Ingredients: Herbal, plants and floral oils
Don’t use if pregnant.

Use with caution if: high blood pressure, blood disorders, or epileptic.

Disclaimer: This product has not been evaluated by the FDA. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

A Green Cell Phone Co. Offer ends 11/13/09

Credo a Green Cell Phone Co. this offer ends 11/13/09 http://action.credomobile.com/specialoffers/oct09/oca/oca1a.html

Flogging Molly 2010 Tour

Flogging Molly 2010 Tour!
http://bit.ly/Pqy8X click link for info. If you have never seen or heard of Flogging Molly, you have been missing out. They are great! You will not be disappointed.

Hooping

This is Richard and I hooping it up at the Pagan Pride Awareness Day, Zilker Park, Austin Texas - 10/10/09. I had so much fun with hooping at the fest, that I bought me one, called SunSpot, from Cedar of Natural Magick Shop (see link above). After I got SunSopt home, I was hooping everyday, then it starting raining in Austin, which has ended the drought we were in. This is the worst drought since the 1950s. Folks who say there isn't global warming are full of crap. This drought was so bad that the Pedernalas River dried up. You could walk across the riverbed without getting wet. Anyway, back to hooping. These are a few links to hooping in Austin, Texas: Hooping in Austin and Hooping.org, There are Meetup Groups as well, check the internet for meetups in your area.     This is great exercise for any age. Gets your blood moving. It's easy on your joints, no more pounding your joints from jogging, high-impact aerobics, etc. Just hooping, moving your body around in a circular motion, feeling your stress fade away, and happiness rushing in to lift your spirit. Any age and sized person can do this, hooping for fun or hooping for a cause. Gets you outside in the fresh air, communing with nature and your fellow folk. Makes you laugh, lightens your spirit, brings joy to your heart, and soul. No monthly gym fees and you don't have to travel from home to do this, which lessons your carbon footstep on Mother Earth. Hooping is good for you, good for your friends and family, and good for the environment. Awesome!

Impressive

Something positive and loving came out of this event http://www.nydailynews.com/lifestyle/weddings/2009/11/02/2009-11-02_bride_jilted_at_the_alter.html. She is a very forgiving person, not sure I would have been. She's a very impressive person. Way to go Teanne Harris.

Hubble telescope

This site is new to me, may not be to all, but to me, yes. I do not think about the Universe as being in color, but this website http://hubblesite.org/gallery/wallpaper shows that it is. I download a new picture every week to dress-up my desktop, which is very coo! This site has made me really think about how small my world is. I’ve realized that I’m a little speck on Mother Earth, which is a little speck in the Milky Way Galaxy, which is a little speck in the Universe. Too bad I am not able to see these magnificent colors of the Universe that are displayed in this Hubble site from my point of view here on Mother Earth. But, as I am not able to leave my spot here on Mother Earth to go exploring the Universe, I am happy to have found this wonderful website provided by NASA via the Hubble telescope. This whole site is full of info on the Hubble telescope, NASA, space, which is very fascinating and educational. This is a nice stumble-upon (http://www.stumbleupon.com/)  for me. Hope you enjoy this website as much as I do.

Is Anyone Really Reading Your Stuff?

Is Anyone Really Reading Your Stuff?

Website update: www.designsbybrenda.net

I've updated my website. Check it out: http://www.designsbybrenda.net/

Review for Curiosity Expands Your Mind, by Brenda Miller

This book is a resource book that combines information regarding metaphysical, spiritual, magical workings, energy healing, and more into one place. I have many books on subjects such as reiki, gemstones and crystals, magical workings, etc. I have many books. Each time I needed to refer to a subject matter, I would have to hunt down one of my many books, magazine articles, and pieces of paper that I had hurriedly jotted down some notes on, or look up something on the net. I can only carry so much of this stuff around at one time, be it in my head, in my arms or in my book bag. I was running out of space for these multiple on my bookshelves, bedside stands, the floor, the countertop, etc. So, I decided to combine my many years of compiling knowledge on the above mentioned subjects into one spot. I also wanted to show that all religions: Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, Paganism, Wiccan, etc. are kind of linked together. All of them, in their own way, promote love and happiness, which I think that we have forgotten as we try to prove that one is better than the other. All of these religions or belief systems have a basic beginning: they have a creation story, a belief in a creator/supreme spirit that they pay homage to, a very basic way of worshiping, and that they respect and honor the different seasons that Mother Earth provides. We are all one, whether we want to admit it or not.

You may use this book as it is; as it is detailed enough to be all that you may or will need on the various subjects contained inside of it. Or, it may be the catalyst that catapults you into mastering any or all of the topics within. Who know where it may take you. Nevertheless, I am also hoping that this book encourages you to never stop seeking, never stop looking, and never stop gathering knowledge on whatever subject inspires you to do so.

This book is available through http://www.amazon.com/; http://www.bn.com/; http://www.amazon.co.uk/; http://www.trafford.com/; and http://www.designsbybrenda.net/ .

What!??

Can you believe this? This employer asked his employees to change their first names because customers may not be able to pronounce their name. Well, maybe people need to learn how to pronounce the names. Not every one is called: Sue, Bob, Bill, Nancy, etc.


http://www.polls.newsvine.com/_question/2009/10/26/3426237-should-employers-be-allowed-to-change-the-first-names-of-employees-whose-names-are-difficult-to-understand-or-pronounce?GT1=43001

Sterilize your pet/companion

My kitty Sora was spayed on Thurs 10/19. I took her to Animal Trustees of Austin, Texas (web: http://www.animaltrustees.org/). They are a wonderful place to take your animals for sterilization and for wellness checkups: vaccinations, flea prevention, heartworm prevention, nail trimming, etc. Their office is easy access from I-35, easy in, easy out. You do have to call and make an appointment for sterilization procedures. The Wellness Clinic is walk-in basis and/or you may call to check to see if they are able to work you in that day to see your beloved pet/companion. Their number is 512-451-9355. It’s nice to find an affordable clinic as some of us folks would not be able to afford the costs of sterilization and other wellness check-ups. I highly recommend them, I give them a 5-star rating.


Emancipet in Austin (http://www.emancipet.org/) is another wonderful clinic that provides the same or similar services. Their number is 512-587-7729. I have used them in past as well, and also give them a 5-star rating.

As responsible parents, we should all strive to sterilize our wonderful pets/companions. This process helps them live a longer, healthier, happier life. And your pet/companion has a much better disposition as they are not worked up at all times with the reproductive hormones raging through their system. So be a good parent, do what you are suppose to do, take responsibility of your life, their life and have them sterilized. You and your pet/companion will be in a much happier place by doing so.

Both of these clinics are non-profit (501(c)3 tax-exempt), so your donations are something that you can deduct on your income tax filing, which is always a good thing.

My Fabulous Weekend

My daughter and I went to a very fun event on Saturday, 10/24, the Austin Teen Book Festival. It was held at Westlake High School, my daughter's High School. Sixteen authors who write teen novels were there: Libba Bray; Heather Brewer; Carrie Jones; Justine Larbalestier; Daniel Waters; Jennifer Ziegler just to name or link to a few. Authors like this didn't exist when I was a teen, well that was a really long time ago, but I wished they had. I read a lot, but most of my friends didn't. Books like these didn't exist back then, or 10-15 years ago. These authors and others like them (J.K. Rowling) have made an impact on encouraging teens, young adults, and older adults to start reading and to continue to read.


So I'm glad that my daughter and other teens have such creative role-models. All of these authors are just wonderful. I have never read any of their books (the ones at this book festival), but look forward to reading all the novels that I purchased at the book festival. Libba Bray was the keynote speaker, very awesome. She is just great, very funny, she makes you want to be her friend. There was big turnout for this event. People came from Houston, San Antonio, Bryan-College Station, etc., so it wasn't just an Austin crowd or event. I'm looking forward to next year's book festival and this time I will be a volunteer and so will my daughter. Then after the book festival, we had a baby shower to attend.

My niece is having her first baby and only baby in December. I'll be a great-aunt again and I'm very excited about this. Looking forward to baby setting, and watching him grow up. And of course, I get to teach him how to torment his parents, wahhaa, haahaa, (maniacal laughter). And tomorrow, I'm going to Wimberley to join in a Reiki Circle. Several of us Reiki Masters are getting together to do Reiki on each other. I am soooooo looking forward to this. I haven't had a Reiki treatment in a long time, performing Reiki on myself just isn't the same. Wow, this sounds very pornographic, but it isn't. Oh well......

Check out these websites for more info on the authors. Libba Bray: http://www.libbabray.com/; Heather Brewer: http://www.heatherbrewer.com/; Carrie Jones: http://www.carriejonesbooks.com/; Justine Larbalestier: http://justinelarbalestier.com/; Daniel Waters: http://watersdan.blogspot.com/; Jennifer Ziegler: http://www.jenniferziegler.net/; J.K. Rowling: http://www.jkrowling.com/accessible/en/; Reiki: http://www.aetw.org/reiki_def.html

My book Curiosity Expands Your Mind

My book Curiosity Expands Your Mind by Brenda Miller is now available on www.barnesandnoble.com and www.amazon.com and www.amazon.co.uk.com. Very Cool!!!

What a nice birthday present

I thought this story was very cool. The baby is born on the airplane, his mom and he get free flying for life. What a nice birthday present. http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20091023/od_afp/malaysiaairasiaairlineoffbeat

Brenda's Thoughts: Legalize pot for medicinal use

Brenda's Thoughts: Legalize pot for medicinal use

Legalize pot for medicinal use

Check out this link. Read the comments on why the US should legalize pot for medicinal use. This is very interesting, and sign up to add your comments.
http://www.polls.newsvine.com/_question/2009/10/19/3398841-should-pot-smoking-patients-be-safe-from-federal-prosecution-in-states-that-allow-medical-marijuana?GT1=43001

correct link to Mining for Gold....

this is the link for the Mining for Gold under the Sea artical:

http://blogs.moneycentral.msn.com/topstocks/archive/2009/10/13/the-smartest-way-to-play-gold-may-be-under-the-sea.aspx

Blog Action Day Oct 15

Environmental Awareness, Human and Animal rights, etc. http://www.blogactionday.org/

Mining for Gold under the Sea

Playing gold under the sea
Posted Oct 13 2009, 08:46 PM by InvestorPlace
"Why limit ourselves to land," the energy companies asked, "when there is so much wealth under the sea?"
Now, gold companies are asking themselves the same question. And the result is a new industry that sounds like science fiction: Mining for gold at the bottom of the ocean.
Mining the seafloor is in its infancy, but has all the potential that offshore oil and gas drilling held a few decades ago. Start-ups abound, and venture capitalists are racing for a piece of the pie. " http://bit.ly/S9XQE
_________________________________________________________
This is wrong in my opinion. Mining has destroyed the land, now companies want to mine the fragile oceans. Where will we stop? Oh, I guess when there is nothing left and we have completely destroyed Mother Earth. Ugh…   Think about. ~ Brenda

My book is now listed on Amazon.com. Yippee!!

      Check it out! My book is now listed on Amazon.com! Curiosity Expands Your Mind, by Brenda Miller. I'm bragging, I know, but I've never published a book before. This is very exciting for me. Purchase a copy, you won't be sorry.

My birthday has come and gone....

Hiya!    
        Well, my birthday has come and gone, the ACL Fest has come and gone. I can only say “I’M 50!!” 351 more days. So, I need to make sure that I make good use of what time is left.

        I sold four of my books, Curiosity Expands Your Mind, a resource book for Truth Seekers, at the Pagan Pride Day (http://www.paganpride.org/) in Zilker Park, Austin, Texas this past weekend (Sat. 10/10/09). That was very exciting!! I hope to sell many more.
        At Pagan Pride Day, I bought me a hula-hoop from Cedar Stevens (http://naturalmagickshop.com/). Cedar makes hula-hoops and also teaches hooping classes. She also names the hoops that she makes. My hoop is called “Sun Spot.” Very appropriate, as it brings a lot of happiness into my life, makes me laugh. It brightens up my day. I hoop each morning on my back porch. I’m not ready to join the Austin Hoopers, yet. In Austin (http://www.meetup.com/AustinHoopers/es/), there is hooping every Sunday at Zilker Park, see link. I never thought I would be hooping again. I did it as a child, loads of fun with it back then. Now I’m 50, and I’m doing it again. Yippee!!
        This has been a wonderful year for me. I turned 50; my daughter and I went to England for a holiday; I met a wonderful man, Richard; I published my book Curiosity Expands Your Mind, a resource book for Truth Seekers; I developed a website: http://www.designsbybrenda.net; I blog now: http://brenda-designsbybrenda.blogspot.com, http://brenda201b.livejournal.com, belong to LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/brendamilleraustintx. I’m on Face Book http://www.facebook.com/people/Brenda-Miller/1216463582; I tweet http://twitter.com/Brenda201b. Wow, I feel exhausted just looking at this list of things that I’ve accomplished so far for 2009.
        So 2009 is my year to shine!! I’ve made so many changes. If someone had told me last year all the changes I would be making in 2009, I would have never believed them. I’ve come a long way. I’ve been through a lot and I’ve made it. I’m ready for the future, not sure what is in store for me, but I bet it’s going to be just as wonderful. I’m 50, and I’m glad to be here. I feel very ALIVE!!
         I wonder what 2010 will be like, hmmmmmm……

Ciao!
Brenda

My website

I have updated my website today. Check out what is new, check out my favorite links, check out my products and services. Buy a copy of my book.... my website: http://www.designsbybrenda.net/ (It's hosted by Yahoo! and hopefully someday Google will pick it up). Oh yeah, I turned 50 today, Thursday, Oct 1. Awesome!

Two days before my 50th b-day

Well, I had to take a day off from work yesterday. I was in a lot of pain due to the front that was sweeping across Texas. All of my joints were achy. The front made it through Austin around noontime, but didn?t clear my area until around 2 or 3. I have fibromyalgia, so I?m use to pain, but this was different. My hands: palms, joints, wrist, were very achy and felt a little swollen (I make my living using my hands). I finally got enough of my pain meds in me to make the pain subside, or at least my brain was numbed to my body?s screams of pain. Anyway, I feel much better this morning. On the other hand, this could be a side effect of all the pain meds I have running through my body right now, who knows, don?t really care, because I feel much better. The air is cooler, and the front has moved through. Yippee!

Well, only two more days to my 50th B-day. Yea! Only three more days to the ACL Fest, double yea! This year has been a really special one for me. I meet my partner, Richard, in April. We are planning a handfasting for May 1, 2010. I took my daughter and myself to England in June. Played tourist for 12 days, totally loved it. Everyone over there was so nice, loads of fun. We had such fun hanging out with some wonderful friends in Nailsea (outside of Bristol). Visited some other friends in Gosport, and then spent four days in London. Finally finished my book Curiosity Expands Your Mind, a Resource Book for Truth Seekers, sent it to the publishers in August. It is ready and is for sale. I have some of copies at my home to sell, or go to www.trafford.com to purchase it. I?m going to the ACL Fest Oct 2-4 for my 50th birthday (a present to myself). Hanging out with my partner Richard at the Pagan Pride day Oct 17, selling our creations: my book, hair oil that I created, crocheted bags, Richard?s beautifully hand crafted walking sticks, faery doors (see www.designsbybrenda.net for more info on these products). Finally got my website up and running in September. I even have blogs now; join Twitter, MyBlogLog, Live Journal, Blogger, LinkedIn. So, it?s been a really good/great year for me. Never thought I would do any of this, none. But, I did, and I?m really proud of myself.

Oh well, need to get ready for work; fix my lunch, etc. I?m going to start riding the bus again to work. I had to stop due to the really brutal temperature this summer. When I ride the bus, I walk about two miles to my bus stop on my trip home every day, it?s a nice way to end the day, walk out my stress from work. I work in the legal field, it gets very stressful, I?m in a much better mood when I get home as I have walked all that stress and crap right out of my system. I work in a great law firm. I assist four attorneys; all of them are wonderful, co-workers are great, can?t ask for more. Oh yeah, I could be retired. Hmmmm?.that would be nice.

TTFN, I?m off to work. Yea me!
Brenda

Today

Four more days to ACL Fest. I'm very excited about this, as I have never been.

Turning 50 on 10/01, WooHoo!!

    I'm turning 50 this year. My birthday is Thursday, Oct 1. I decided to treat myself with a nice birthday present: ACL Fest 3-day pass. And of course I had to buy Mikayla, my 14-yr old, a pass as well. We plan on hanging out the whole weekend at Zilker Park, listening to some great tunes, seeing some interesting sights, just a totally enjoyable way to celebrate my 50th.        Not sure how I feel about this, turning 50, half a century. I've had some great experiences, good and bad. But one thing is for sure, I like myself more now at my half-century mark then I did at my quarter-century mark. I don't take things quite so seriously and don't care what others think so much about me. "I can anything that I want to do, and I don't need anyone's permission." This is a philosophy I try to stick to, although at times that can be hard as I am having to get rid of my old belief patterns to do so, but there is always room for improvement--like Shrek says, "Better out then in." I've lived in Austin for almost 20 years now. I've been divorce for over 2 years now, after a 20 year marriage. I've found a wonderful man, Richard, to share my life with. We are having a handfasting May 1, 2010. May 1 is referred to as Beltane, May Day, and/or First Day of Summer. We are holding the ceremony outdoors in a wonderful park in southeast Travis County amongst beautiful ancient pecan trees and a haunted bridge. Very cool!    I do look forward to my birthday this year. I usually don't celebrate it, but thought that this a huge milestone as I don't know how many more I will have and I really try to live each day as if it is my last. My grandmother was 99 when she passed away. I've been told by my guides that I will be here until I'm 93, as long as I'm healthy so to speak, not depending on folks to take care of me, that would be awesome. I had a friend while growing up that was 93 or 95 when she passed. She still drove her car, climbed up on ladders to clean her gutters on her home, didn't like people treating her like she was an old person, she was very feisty and full of life. She lived each day as if it was her last. This is what I want to do, and if I can't, I don't want to be here anymore.   Well, here's to me, I turn 50, yippee!!
Brenda
http://www.designsbybrenda.net/