Happy Holidays 2014!

So, last month we traveled from Baltimore to Springfield, IL by train to see Lincoln’s house, something Tim has been wanting to do for the last five years. Our hotel was nice, they sold wine by the bottle in the bar downstairs (which we had in our room with dinner), and there were plenty of eating choices.
The overnight sleeping accommodations on the train were interesting to say the least (more on that later). On the 3-hour "Texas Eagle" train between Chicago and Springfield, the coach seats are on the upper level. Cursing under our breaths, we hauled our luggage up the steep narrow steps, not realizing we could have left it in a rack on the lower level. (Thanks Amtrak for not pointing that out right away.)
On the ride down from Chicago to Springfield, there was the Screaming Toddler from Hell in the seat ahead of us. On the ride back from Springfield to Chicago, there was no toddler but a guy sitting behind us chatting up various women on his mobile phone. TMI.
At one point we overheard him bemoaning one of the staples of the Midwest. “Corn. There’s nothing here but fields and fields of corn. I’m on the train going through East Bumfuck.” Then, a few minutes later: “I’m black. We don’t do that country shit.”
Couldn’t stop laughing at that one.
Brief but interesting dream last night (actually early this morning). A wizard or sage (dressed in grey) with flowing grey-white hair leaned over me as I was dreaming and said, "All desires, dreams, and life-goals emanate from the Great Phenobe (Phenome?)."
I asked, "What is that?"
The wizard replied, "The One."
So last night I had a dream filled with symbols of renewal and rebirth. Perhaps it is because it is Samhain ("summer's end" from the ancient Celts—or Halloween to the Muggles). In the dream I wrote the following words in silver light on a dark page in my journal and signed my name:
I believe that I can accomplish anything I set my heart, mind, and hand to.
Sounds like a good way to bring light to the darkness, and a good mantra to start the new year.
Balticon 46 Masquerade, a set on Flickr.
And link to slideshow:
http://www.flickr.com//photos/elwynsattic/sets/72157629978893458/show/