Showing posts with label BooksWeLove Ltd.. Show all posts
Showing posts with label BooksWeLove Ltd.. Show all posts

Saturday, October 29, 2022

Windego, and other Monsters




Fly Away Snow Goose


WINDEGO: An evil spirit of the northland, a monstrous creature who comes prowling in winter, hungry for human flesh; it is remorseless, pitiless. 

If the year was a lean one, winter was a hard time for the hunter/gatherers who lived in the NWT. The People would leave their summer camps in small groups and scatter into the vast emptiness, away from the lakes and rivers where they'd all come together as a tribe to trade and celebrate the fat season of summe. Our of necessity, they'd change their tribal, summer way of life to retreat to live in isolation, hunting and trapping the range around them, away from others who were now engaged in the same thing. Sometimes, it did not go well; the hunters were not lucky; the game was scarce or had changed from their accustomed paths of migration. 

Then, the spectre of starvation haunted the isolated camps, and sometimes people were driven to desperate measures in order to survive. A man who had eaten his family in order to stay alive, was said to have "gone  Windego." Such a primal sin was viewed with horror, so a monster was created to explain this counter-cultural behavior. A few of those stories came to be written down in early colonial times, but the oral versions were well known to those who were exposed to the fierce winters, who sometimes had experienced, first-hand, hunger and the awful struggle to survive. 

It is said the Windego eats his own lips and checks, so his skull is always partially visible, and he arrives surrounded by a stench so horrible that it even overpowers the bitter winter wind.  People, driven to this extremity, were believed to have been taken over by this dreadful being, and that was the reason they had committed the unholy crime of cannibalism.  In fact, during the 19th Century, early Canadian psychologists defined "going Windego" as a "culturally based" disorder.

(Thunderbird--well known to the Northern First Nations--
among the Tlicho, Thunderbird was referred to indirectly, as "Father."
He's one of the good guys.)

Today, the Windego is, in some quarters, viewed as a cryptid. Wikipeidia defines cryptids as "animals that cryptozoologists believe may exist somewhere in the wild, but are not believed to exist by mainstream science." Cryptozoology primarily looks at anecdotes and blurry photos, the sort of  claims rejected by the scientific community. These monsters now feature in YouTube videos in all manner of ghastly forms, but this vision of the Windego is of only passing interest to me.

"Windego" appears to me--not as a myth created by "superstitious 1st Nation's People," --but as an acutely observed form of human personality disorder. I didn't figure this out on my own, but by listening to Buffy Sainte Marie's song called "Priests of the Golden Bull." 

She makes a connection with the storied monster and the unfettered greed and disregard for the cooperative behavior which holds together our societies. Look around. The Dark Triad personality, (where a subject possesses a toxic combo of Narcissism, Michiavellianism and Psychopathy) is having a good run these days among CEO's, Tech Bros, politicians, and the sort of "religous" figures who live in gated mansions and always need their followers to send more money. 

In a world where it's considered smart to get rich while ignoring the human suffering or the irreparable harm pursuit of this quarter's profits causes a community -- or the arm done to the water, the air, or the planet -- Ms. Sainte Marie sees the ever-hungry, cannibalistic Windigo. The "Greed is Good," mentality is on display everywhere. 


Take a look at ever so many modern companies, their successes measured by how many jobs they've eliminated, or how they've stolen pension funds from retirees in the course of a merger, or how many rural communities they have destroyed, for instance, building a petrochemical refinery or an industrial pig farm next door to a small town which doesn't have the clout to fight back. 

"Gentrification" in cities raises rents until the essential workers--those who run the store checkouts, clean the buildings and streets, teach and/or care for children and seniors, can no longer afford to live close to where they are employed. Other casualties include small entrepreneurial businesses of all kinds, from restaurants and local bars, to independent bookshops and corner convenience stores.





Today's Windego doesn't just live in the deep woods. These days, he (or she) is seen as a "celebrity," on our television screens, and all over the internet and Twitter. Many are even elected to high public office. Worst of all, their "Not my brother's keeper" attitude is now held up to young people as the smart way to live. 

Instead of dwelling on psychos and cannibals, instead, let's take this time of All Hallows, All Saints and All Souls to find some peace and to give thanks: to remember our ancestors, our friends, mentors, and family who have passed beyond the veil. Let's also remember our honored dead, the kind of people who served and helped, rather than injured, the common folks of our communities and our country. 


~~Juliet Waldron 
All my historicals may be seen @






 






Sunday, December 28, 2014

Digital Fitness Monitor--The Gift That Won't Stop Giving by Connie Vines

It is nearing the end of December and the New Year is shoving itself to the forefront of everyone's mind.  All the Christmas goodies have been consumed or given away in festive holiday containers to family and friends.  Leaving many of us looking at the calendar and wondering which day to begin storing away our exuberant display Christmas decorations; or deciding which holiday cards to keep or recycle.

I, however, I am spending my morning staring out my office window at a profusion of lovely southern California greenery, listening to "The Martini Station" on Slacker Radio and slipping a cup of warm water (flavored with a bit of lemon) and tormenting myself with my Digital Fitness Monitor.  The same Digital Fitness Monitor I purchase with my birthday gift cards (I am a June baby).

Mind you, I'd much rather be working on my next release: "Gumbo Ya Ya: for women who like romance Cajun and men HOT & SPICY!"  Instead, I'm crawling on the floor to insert a tiny usb thingy into the center of my PC tower (why is the tower/tower door covers and background/ and the 'usb thingy' the same shiny shade of black? Why?  Camouflage, maybe?  No.  No, that can't be the reason.  The real reason being:  black is the perfect venue to highlight 'finger-print' marks.  Thankfully, for my sanity's sake, the monitor and wearable clip is in a somewhat-eye-catching shade of burgundy. (Easily located in the bottom of my black-lined handbag where the device may reside if things don't go well during our 'honeymoon stage".)

That said, I'm back on my PC, where, after rotating though an endless round of 'personal' questions on the set-up and download screen, I'm ready to begin. Unfortunately my device needs to have the battery charged for two hours.  You guessed it, I'm back on the floor yanking out the usb sync device and replacing it with the tiny (black) charger while trying to decide which end of the burgundy fitness monitor to shove into the charging unit.

Success!

While I am waiting, reach for my iPhone and log on to MyFitnessPal with it's scanner and pre-programmed/personalized selection of my fave, and often selected foods, over the past three years.  Even though it's time for a change (I did join an upgraded gym six months ago), and those same twenty pounds have come and gone. . .and returned numerous times over the past five years. Change is always a challenge.

Is this a challenge I'll like?  I very much doubt it--I love my coffee (Starbucks: Gingerbread Latte, hold the whip) way too much.  Will I give my new digital fitness monitor the old college try?  Yes.  After all what choice do I have (the darn thing was expensive!).  I'll grumble, I'll complain, but I will use the digital device.  After all, "Ask Dr. K", newspaper columnist and physician and professor at Harvard Medical School, says that most people use the devices and adopt a healthier lifestyle.  He also has the results of surveys and studies to backup his findings.

I can't argue with proven success.

However, I draw the like at wearing the device while I sleep--I don't care if a wrist band, complete with Velcro fastening--and you guess it--in a nice shiny shade of black, came in the package!

Wishing you a New Year filled with joy and many blessing, as well as an E-Reader filled with wonderful stories from Books We Love Authors.

See you next month!

Connie







A Born Romantic? Southern California may be the Place for You by Connie Vines

Having lived or vacationed in nearly every state in the continental United States, I feel secure when I say southern California is the place for romance.

From wine country to the mountains, from sea shores to the Hollywood Bowl, California's backyard is tailored for romance. Be it a romantic evening with your special someone, or the perfect setting for a romantic novel, southern California is the perfect place.

Malibu.  The drive along the coast is breathtaking, romantic restaurants overlooking the ocean pepper this beach city. Geoffrey's Malibu and Nobu Malibu are the most popular.

The Hollywood Bowl. There are many places to see live music in Los Angeles, but the Hollywood Bowl is a wonderful experience. It's romantic and spectacular. You can purchase a picnic meal with wine at a local restaurant and dine at the Bowl.  From the LA Philharmonic to musical productions, there's something for every couple at the venue.

Beverly Hills. II Cielo Was named one of the top 100 most romantic restaurants in America by open table, an online restaurant reservation network. Despite being in the middle of the city, the restaurant managers to close itself off from the chaos. There's an ambiance – – a romantic vibe.

Laguna Beach.  For me it's a cross between La Jolla and Newport Beach. There are steep cliffs and a quaint beach town. The restaurants, my favorite being "The Cliffs", are perched on the edge. Seafood is fresh and expertly prepared.  Hollywood movies were filmed here: "Beaches" and "The Creature from the Black Lagoon" to name a few.

Santa Barbara.  For those who want to get out of town, Santa Barbara is a couple hours drive from Los Angeles.   "Cold Spring Tavern is the most romantic place, especially if you write historical fiction. It's actually where the trains came through for the gold mine. It's a romantic dive. It's a log cabin, and you can jeans!

San Diego. The Hotel Del (Del Coronado). Beautiful, expensive, one grand ole gal. "Some Like It Hot" starring Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis, and Jack Lemmon was filmed on the beach and featured many scene in or near the beautiful hotel. (In my salad days, I trained as a fragrance consultant at the perfumery in the lobby.)

Though not in SoCal, San Francisco must be included on my list! The Golden Gate Bridge, Cable Cars, Painted ladies, Fishermen wharf, China Town, and the bay. When my husband and I visit San Francisco, "The Franciscan Crab Restaurant" is our preferred dining experience.  Pier 43 1/2 Fisherman's Wharf, the view includes Alcatraz, Gold Gate Bridge, and the bay.  

If you are unable to visit southern California, you can always experience the SoCal vibe.  Catch a movie-- be it campy or romantic (Christmas in Palm Springs or Clueless), listen to sound of ocean waves or the tunes of  "The Beach Boys". Relax with your honey, and sip a glass of wine or indulge in a latte or two.  

Remember southern California is a state of mind--and romance is everywhere around you.

I hope you enjoyed your Christmas, or Celebration of your Faith.

Wishing you many Blessings in the New Year,

Connie Vines

www.novelsbyconnievines.com








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