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31 Dec

What country is that?

It’s always entertaining living with teenagers. Annika, Greg’s 14 year old from Australia, stayed with us for 3 weeks over the holidays. One day Brian, my 15 year old, says to me: “Mom, they’re having that KROQ around the world concert again! I want to go! Green Day is playing in Bulimia!” Annika starts laughing hysterically. I do a double-take. Bulimia? “It’s Bolivia!” Annika shouts across the room. Okay – later in the day we’re actually listening to the radio station, and KROQ is playing in Scotland. These are the kinds of things you have to write down to remember so you can all laugh about it again when they’re older. Share/Bookmark]]>

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31 Dec

Oscar predictions

Prior to the official announcement of nominees from “The Academy” here are my
picks for Oscar’s top slots (and my pick for the winner*, and who I think will win
+): Best Picture:
Finding Neverland*
The Aviator +
Ray
Million Dollar Baby
Hotel Rwanda Best Actor:
Jamie Foxx – Ray +
Leonardo DiCaprio – The Aviator
Don Cheadle – Hotel Rwanda*
Johnny Depp – Finding Neverland
Jim Carrey – Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind Best Actress:
Uma Thurman – Kill Bill 2
Hilary Swank – Million Dollar Baby* +
Annette Bening – Being Julia
Imelda Staunton – Vera Drake
Kate Winslet – Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind Best Supporting Actor:
Morgan Freeman – Million Dollar Baby*
Clive Owen – Closer +
David Carradine – Kill Bill 2
Jamie Foxx – Collateral
James Garner – The Notebook Best Supporting Actress:
Natalie Portman- Closer
Laura Linney – Kinsey +
Cloris Leachman – Spanglish*
Sophie Okonedo – Hotel Rwanda
Meryl Streep – The Manchurian Candidate Best Director:
Martin Scorsese – The Aviator* +
Clint Eastwood – Million Dollar Baby
Marc Forster – Finding Neverland
Zhang Yimou – House of Flying Daggers
Taylor Hackford – Ray Best Original Screenplay:
The Aviator* +
Hotel Rwanda
The Incredibles
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Kill Bill 2 Adapted Screenplay:
Finding Neverland*
Million Dollar Baby
Spider-Man 2
Sideways +
The Motorcycle Diaries Best Animated Picture:
The Incredibles* +
Shrek 2 Best Foreign Language Film:
House of Flying Daggers* +
The Sea Inside
A Very Long Engagement
Maria Full of Grace Best Costumes:
Phantom of the Opera* +
House of Flying Daggers
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31 Dec

More rain in California

When it rains in Southern California it’s news. When it rains as much as it has recently, it is history-making news! I am a native Californian. I was born and raised in Northern California and moved to Los Angeles to go to UCLA. Since I’ve been here, I can’t remember more rain than what we’ve had this season. Yes, we needed it. We were dry, facing another drought. Lake Arrowhead was dangerously low, something like 21 feet low. And yet with one fell swoop of a storm that’s all been made up. We’ve got plenty of water – miraculously! But now when will it stop? We’ve already seen devastating landslides in La Conchita and other areas in and around Los Angeles. When is enough really enough? And what does all this water mean in the metaphysical sense? I find it interesting that in Australia, where they are still having their summer, they are having powerful rainstorms as well. And then there’s the recent Tsunami. All this adds up to a lot of water all over the world. Water represents emotion, cleansing, tears. It can also mean a re-birth. So much has been happening that maybe the world needed this bath in a philosophical sense. While it’s not the world-wide flood that Noah endured, maybe it is a signal to us for the need to start over again. What are our priorities? What choices are we making? When politicians are able lie their way into office, and killers grace the covers of best-selling magazines, what does that say about the level of awareness in this world? So many things are just upside-down. We have professional athletes who make an insane amount of money, become role-models for our children, and are found out to have been taking illegal substances to improve their performance in the game. Meanwhile we pay our children’s teachers a pittance, we’ve eliminated programs to keep young people involved in activities, and have let our school buildings run down to poverty level standards. Health insurance is so expensive that many families can’t afford it – and health care in general is such a racket with the pharmaceutical companies and hospitals in cahoots with the inurance industry that doctors can’t pay off their student loans for risk of risk losing their malpractice insurance. We’ve got Hummers clogging up the highways – with one person driving alone inside! Children are hungry. Animals are killed for their fur. The universe is crying, and it’s not difficult to see why. Share/Bookmark]]>

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31 Dec

Pet peeve

I have a cat. I love my cat. Like any good cat owner/mom/friend I want to take good care of my little kitty and provide her with all the best cat stuff there is to be had. And I don’t even mind putting up with the stinky littler box. It’s a small price to pay for all the love and cuddles I get from my baby! So, yesterday when I went to the market to buy her more litter for her box, I had to pause and contemplate just what the deal is with all the shelves full of litter box filler choices. Evidently there is quite a science to kitty litter. I can get regular, organic, environmentally friendly, dust-free, scoopable, clumpable, even one for multiple cats. And when it comes to odor control I have the choice of “Immediate odor control” or “Long lasting odor control.” Excuse me, but I want BOTH! All this technology, all this shelf space taken up in the grocery store and I have to choose whether to put up with the smell now or later? Hmmm… I’ll have to think about that one. I don’t think my kitty cat minds one way or the other. Share/Bookmark]]>

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31 Dec

Irony

Here I am, my usual station throughout the day, at my desk in front of the computer. I have so many projects that I’m juggling all at once, and it shows. There are papers piled on the floor, on every available surface, and mostly, right where I can see them on my desk. I have AD/HD – that’s the current short-cut term for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. In my particular occupation, AD/HD can be an asset. I am able to handle lots of things at a time, and I have a lot of energy for the things that I am interested in. I guess the downside to this is that I am so often so involved in what I am doing that I don’t take time to organize. Now, the rest of my house is super organized! My closet, the kitchen, the bookshelfs – I mean, it’s pretty impressive! But that’s because I hardly spend any time there, so I can’t really mess up what I so carefully put together. But here at my desk it’s another story. I think it would be dangerous for me to have some sort of normal filing system – basically because if I can’t “see” something, then I forget about it, it’s like it doesn’t exist! So I end up with these piles – and sticky notes everywhere with scribbled notes in the corners of phone numbers and no name, and just when I toss it will be when I need it. With a few spare minutes on my hands I go through a rather large pile on the left side of my desk. Toss some old mail, an expired coupon, set aside an ad to order theatre tickets online… and what do I find? A book I ordered from amazon ages ago – it’s called “ADD-Friendly Ways to Organize Your Life.” Ah, the irony! Share/Bookmark]]>

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31 Dec

Tom vs. Brooke

Tom Cruise is in the news again. If you haven’t heard, he’s got a new girlfriend, the much-younger Katie Holmes. They each have a blockbuster movie coming out this summer, so the publicity can’t hurt either of them. If Tom would just stick to promoting his movie and enthusing about his newfound love life, I wouldn’t have any complaint with him. I mean, live and let live, right? But Tom is imposing his opinions, beliefs, misinformed judgments or whatever else you want to call them, all over the place. His target? Actress and now author, Brooke Shields. Brooke has just written a book chronicling her battle with post-partum depression. I applaud Brooke for her honest and straight-forward account of this debilitating condition that so many women go through without even knowing what it is. After her child was born, this usually easy-going, productive, intelligent woman fell into the depths of despair. She couldn’t function, and questioned her very existence. So after much research, she finally took her doctor’s advice and went on an anti-depressant medication. It was enough to get her over the hump and it very likely saved her life. So why would Tom Cruise, who as far as we all know has never given birth, never suffered from depression, and is not a medical doctor, condemn Brooke’s very personal decision? Because he’s a Scientologist. And Scientologists don’t believe in “mind altering” medications. He has said in the press that there is “no science” to prove that anti-depressants are effective. According to Tom, Brooke could have cured her depression with vitamins and exercise. Hello? Tom, have you ever heard of a PET scan? Is that not science enough for you? Puh-leez! Do some research! Better yet, have some compassion. I’m the first one to get on board with any kind of natural remedy. I wrote a book “The Healthy Family Handbook: Natural Remedies for Parents and Children.” But I also know that there are certain things that western science can do that nothing else can. If someone were facing surgery, say they needed a tumor taken out to relieve excruciating pain, would Tom suggest that they take a vitamin and walk around the block instead? Physical pain is no different than emotional pain. One starts in the body, the other starts in the brain. The mind and body are intricately linked. God made man, and made us intelligent, and intelligence made anti-depressants, so to me those medications are no less from God than vitamins. Taken in the right circumstances, under a doctor’s care, they can help people. And they certainly were able to help Brooke Shields. Who is Tom to argue with that? Who is he to judge? He is certainly entitled to make his own decisions, for himself, but to judge another person as he did is not only cruel, it’s criminal. Will some other woman going through post-partum depression feel guilty taking her doctor’s advice and instead of taking necessary medication, take a vitamin? Why should she suffer for Tom’s arrogance? Tom may play the hero in the movies, but in this instance, he’s playing the villain – the ignorant, self-important, destructive bad guy.

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31 Dec

Michael Jackson verdict

Seven days the jury deliberated. And now we have a verdict. Not guilty, times 10. So, what do we make of this? I don’t know what to think. I have followed the Michael Jackson case closely, and I wonder if the jurors heard something that I missed. If this were any “regular” person being accused of these crimes, would the jury come to the same conclusion? Certainly celebrities are viewed, and treated, differently in this society. What is it that about fame that gives these people their teflon coating? There are bound to be comparisons to the OJ Simpson trial, and Robert Blake, and now Michael Jackson. Are these men criminals, who used their money and popularity to seduce the public into believing in their innocence? Have they been able to successfully manipulate the justice system in their favor? Or have they gotten the fair trial and just verdict that they deserve? There are no easy answers. I watched as the verdicts were read this afternoon, and fans cheered, threw confetti, and let doves fly free in celebration. Who are these devotees who have given up their lives to “be there” in support of their beloved Michael? Some have traveled from around the world. They create quite a stir, as if their enthusiasm alone is enough to pull Michael through. The adulation, the tears, it’s all very dramatic – and maybe it’s just all a part of the show. Word has it that some of these groupies are actually paid to show up everyday. Money, after all, can buy just about anything. What irks me about this particular case is that Michael Jackson has set him self apart from the rest of society. He has made his own rules, and by letting him off the hook on all counts, society has basically said that it’s okay. There may not be a law about adults sleeping in a bed with children of a certain age, particularly children who are not their own, but there is a standard that society has set that says “this is not okay.” There are boundaries. There is responsible behavior. There is respectful behavior. And sleeping in a bed with someone else’s child is crossing that boundary. It is not responsible, or respectful, behavior. And yet somehow it’s okay for Michael Jackson to do just that. Michael clearly believes that he is innocent. And he believes that there is nothing wrong with his behavior towards children. But just because he believes that doesn’t make it right. Even when, back in 1993, he paid $20 million to a family in a civil case, that wasn’t enough make him understand that there is simply something wrong with his behavior. You’d think that would have taught the guy a lesson! But, no. Not only did he continue doing whatever the heck he wanted to do, he flaunted it on national television, for all the world to see. Michael Jackson is not a smart man, but in this case he outsmarted the jury. I don’t believe that he is innocent, or naive. I think that he considers himself separate from the rest of us, and that he plays the part he created so perfectly that he believes it himself. Michael Jackson is a musical genius. It is likely that he was abused as a child, and his childhood certainly was exploited. Yet that is no excuse for his behavior. He has been caught in lies many times – from denying his plastic surgeries to inflating the size of his bank accounts. And if he took a lie detector test I’d bet he would pass, because he totally believes what he says. The man wouldn’t survive a day in jail. Not because he’s too fragile, or because the inmates would make meatloaf out of him, but because he couldn’t handle the reality of the situation. He couldn’t reconcile his interpretation of reality with what smacks him in the face. It would drive him over the edge. What’s sad is that all of these people are paid to protect him, to worship him, to cater to his every whim. And yet no one is getting him the help he so desperately needs. It’s “the Emperor’s clothes” story. Maybe it will take a little child to speak up, and make Michael Jackson realize that what he is doing is just plain wrong. Or maybe not. Maybe this was our chance and it’s gone.

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31 Dec

Babies in the Backyard

Our backyard has turned into a menagerie. Spring has sprung and then-some around here! Greg has made a sanctuary for the squirrels, bunnies, hummingbirds and assorted songbirds that come around for the food he puts out for everyone everyday. It’s truly wonderful to sit outside and be entertained by the wildlife! They have become our friends, and they are a real reminder of how precious, and robust, life really is. A few weeks ago we were having a balmy evening and I was reading in the bedroom with the sliding glass door open. Brian, my almost-16 year old, came in to give me some of his news of the day when he heard a spash in the pool. I figured it was just the ducks, a mallard couple who comes around to take a dip every now and again, and let it go. But Brian was curious and went outside to investigate. Thank goodness he did! In the pool he found a baby bunny trying desperately to swim. He sprang into action, grabbed the pool scoop, and scooped that little guy up to safety. My hero! I brought out a towel and wrapped this sweet little thing up. He was shivvering, and scared. I stroked him and tried to reassure him as best as I could. He could fit in the palm of my hand he was so tiny! Once he was dry and calm we let him loose again in the yard, far away from the swimming pool! We often see the whole family, mom and dad, and two little babies, munching on grass and frolicking on the lawn. It’s amazing to watch the little ones grow, and I get nervous when they hop inside the pool fence! We also have a squirrel family to keep us company. Greg has named the mama squirrel “Nadia” after Nadia Comaneche because she is such an acrobat. Her husband’s name is Bart, of course! They have two little sons whom Greg has dubbed Fatso and Loco. Fatso runs to Greg’s office door for peanuts, and Loco does flips for no apparent reason other than to entertain himself! And then right outside our bedroom window a mama Mourning Dove has made her nest. According to my dad, Mourning Doves are notoriously bad nest-makers, so they try to find a place that’s convenient. We have a hanging plant in a wicker basket there, so it looks like one big nest, and that’s where she has made her home. This is the third year we’ve seen her there, but this is the first year we’ve seen her with babies. She patiently sat there, day after day, and we peaked in on her to make sure she was okay. Finally we could see little pin feathers under her, and one day we could see a little baby bird face looking back at us. When mama went off to get food at one point, we found two precious little birdies, side by side. We didn’t see much of them after that, mama kept them close, staying right on top of them to keep them warm. But one day, when she was off again, Greg peaked in to see that one of the babies had died. We were so sad. I felt so bad for that little mama who cared so much for her little ones. I don’t know why these things happen, just something about nature, no matter the species. Mama is still there with her one little bird, and he’s growing bigger every day. His feathers are coming out, and he’s almost as big as his mom. He’ll fly out of his safe nest soon, and be on his way. I think of how Freddy just graduated from high school, and how he’s leaving home to go off to college. They grow up so quickly!

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31 Dec

Tom Cruise: Enough Already!

I’m so glad that other people are speaking out about Tom Cruise and his insensitivity, and downright… well, stupidity! After Tom’s go-round with Matt Lauer, where Matt kept his dignity while Tom pretty much flew off the handle, Al Roker’s comment was that Tom is not a med student, and needs to stay out of other people’s business. And the APA, (The American Psychiatric Association) the ones who really needed to respond, finally spoke up. Got this quote from the People Magazine entertainment alert: “On behalf of the 36,000-physician-strong APA, the group’s president, Dr. Steven Sharfstein, said in a statement: “It is irresponsible for Mr. Cruise to use his movie publicity tour to promote his own ideological views and deter people with mental illness from getting the care they need.” The rebuke from the APA went on to challenge Cruise’s assertion that psychiatry lacks scientific merit. “Rigorous, published, peer-reviewed research clearly demonstrates that treatment (of mental illness) works,” the APA statement said. “It is unfortunate that in the face of this remarkable scientific and clinical progress that a small number of individuals and groups persist in questioning its legitimacy.” ” I am so appalled that I considered boycotting Tom’s new movie “The War of the Worlds.” But what the heck? I want to see the movie! And I’m certainly not going to let Tom Cruise influence me on this matter or any other.

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31 Dec

Elemental Consciousness in the aftermath of Katrina

I‘ve been struggling with what to say, or write, with all the tragedy that has been going on in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. It seems too big for words, too difficult to comprehend the enormity of it all, including the impact that it will have on generations. Today I was e-mailed this article, which I think is something interesting to think about. I’m copying it in its entirety: AWAKENING ELEMENTAL CONSCIOUSNESS A Star Elders Message through Aluna Joy Yaxk’in Recent events are a signpost that another step toward your evolution, empowerment and awakening has been taken. Because of this, it is time to share with you a message about the elements. With the recent floods in the USA, the tsunami waves in Asia, increased volcano and earthquake activity, and even increased terrorist attacks, it is time to understand your part in all of this, and what you can do about it as a co-creator. It is time for you to understand that everything happens for a reason. Everything is in a divine plan for perfection even though, outwardly, it might look otherwise. Everything has a cause. That cause is found in levels of consciousness. We well know about your Japanese scientist, Dr. Masaru Emoto, who has proven that when water is blessed, it reacts and changes its molecular structure into a more harmonious state. It is equally provable that negative energy could effect water also. YES? Because you now know this fact, it has opened a whole new dimension in your world. You can now direct the consciousness of water! But we want to tell you that it is much more than this. In fact, the other forces of nature (fire, earth and air) will now all become more alive with consciousness just as the water has. These elements have always had consciousness, but now you can direct this potential. The more you are aware of this fact, the more alive the elements will become. The gateway in evolution to making the 4 elements directable conscious has been opened. This changes everything. What this means is that these natural elemental forces are now able to react to your consciousness. Negative energy or positive; It is up to you. What we what to talk about is the projection of negative energy, as this is what’s up on your planet right now. We want to show you what you can do about it. We want to show you why in the long run, this is a very good thing! Example . . . Negative projections, sent from one person to another, can effect the receiving person in a negative way, since their body is made up with a great deal of water. But it can only effect them in areas that are vulnerable. Thus making the receiver aware of a physical, emotional or spiritual weakness. This gives the receiver a unique opportunity to heal that area of their life. Once negative energy is sent out, it wants to find a place that feels like home. Like energy is attracted to like energy. The one who sent the negative energy in the first place has now compromised their energy field and is now vulnerable to attack. The more negative energy they dish out the more that will come back to them. So you do pay a heavy price for using negative energy. This creates a looping effect where negatives keep circumnavigating over and over. This is why some people can’t seem to get out of the negative patterns they are in, since they keep attracting the same issue over and over until they become aware that they can shift it. This is evolution! This makes sense to you, yes? “Your every thought, feeling, perception, spoken word, and performed action reverberates into the universe.” — Swami Muktananda Now what if one country directs negative energy to another country? What would happen? The receiving country would be effected in its geographically/energetically vulnerable locations by the universal law of attraction. Also, sensitive ones in those countries would be effected. Again . . . like energy attracts like energy. Energetically vulnerable locations are places on the earth where land has low vibrations, or where it has suffered misuse due to crime, misuse of drugs, violence, lower chakra energy, and general misuse like pollution. It might be a place that feels depressed, or you might feel tired or heavy while there. There are also natural occurring geographically vulnerable places on Earth . These can be near active volcanoes and fault lines, and land that is near or below sea level. When negative energy is directed to an entire land mass or country, these geographically and energetically vulnerable locations will be the first places that the consciously directed elements will go. These locations are susceptible to what we might perceive as negative events or conscious elemental upheaval. If an area is both geographically and energetically vulnerable at the same time, the elements will clear this area first. For example … In New Orleans, all 4 elements came into play as the land was both geographically and energetically compromised. The wind blew, the water rose, the earth gave way and the fire burned. Directed natural elemental forces rose up to clean up energetic disharmony at that location. Many who endured this event learned hard lessons. Not listening to the warnings of the elements and compromising your life to protect material goods, is not worth the price paid. Once negative energy has been sent out, it can’t be reversed. It is like when you say something hurtful to someone, you can’t take it back. It has been said. The elements will and do act out directed energy. But here is the good news. Now that you know this, you have the ability to direct the elements, and the elements will work for you quickly and efficiently. Many countries in your world have incurred much negative karma creating energetically vulnerable areas by the use of atom bombs, terrorist attacks, and unjust wars, and a general and continual misuse of power. This has created thousands, even millions, of enemies that send out negative projections by their thoughts. Many countries are being bombarded with negative energy on a daily basis, and sensitive ones out there are feeling the pressure of this. This energy does and will clear out geographically and energetically vulnerable areas. Isn’t this GREAT! The elements will and are cleaning up the planet. It is all in divine order and within a universal plan for life to evolve past a dualistic world. But now comes the responsibility that goes with this new step in evolution. Now it is time to take action. Drop the remote, get out of the chair, quit watching the world, and be a part of it once again. Remember that you are a powerful creator within this world. The powers at be know how to use your guilt, shame and fears to take control of you, so you won’t clean up the world. When you are grieving losses and are in shock, you can be used. Don’t let your sadness make you weak. Don’t let fear quiet your voice at this most powerful time. It is time to take action . . . in a POSITIVE WAY. Ancients have known this for some time . . . but now is the time to bring this truth into your time and world in which you live. You are already working with water to clear the planet of its disharmony. Now take this a step further. Work with the AIR, EARTH, FIRE and WATER. All elements are at your direction . . . not just water. Here is the hitch that you might have perceived in this plan. Remember . . . like energy attracts like energy. This is still true. When you send out positive energy to the elements, it will go again to places that feel like home . . . positive places. If wonderful and harmonious energy is sent out, it will reach places that are already harmonious and will be impacted with gentle harmonious elements. A gentle rain, a cool breeze, a gentle sun and an abundant Earth. So how do you heal the negative areas of your planet, and help ones in need? First you must maintain positive places on the Earth, Gardens of Eden if you wish, to give home to those ready to break their patterns of negativity and help them maintain a higher frequency. This way they will quit being vulnerable to negative projections. The more that we all evolve in this way, the less places that the directed elements have to clean up. Those many Gardens of Eden, that you will anchor, will grow and grow, and spread across the planet. This will reduce the environments which may be vulnerable to the elemental fury we are beginning to see. To shift negative areas of your Earth directly is tricky. Going into any kind of battle with the negatives in your area will not attract the desired results. There is another way, and here is how. You must be aware of the area of negativity to be cleared, but at the same time not give the negative any energy. You must dream/imagine the place or person into perfection. See the water pure, the air clear, the earth radiant and the fire righteous. If you see the negative in a place or person and try to heal that negative, you can only project negative laced with judgment and some good intentions. You will just neutralize your energy making it ineffective and a waste of your time. This is why praying or doing affirmations are not working for you anymore. Quit wanting, quit hoping. You must SEE IT ALL in a perfected state. You must become blind to the negative, and only see perfection in its place. You need to control your consciousness as a master does. But be forewarned . . . the necessary clearing of Earth will only be accelerated by your work. This is why global peace prayers seem to activate some violence afterwards. If you don’t believe us, look at your history. And remember that your participation in the clearing of Earth and humanity is a part of the divine plan. Your are already living in a higher frequency, even if it doesn’t feel like it right now. It is not a time to hold back, or slow down the process. It is a time to take positive action. Soon . . . only one negative being will be left standing, and his/her last negative thought will be their undoing . . . And this our friends and family of Earth . . . This IS the Shift of the Ages. Aluna Joy Yaxk’in is an internationally known author, guide and modern mystic. Aluna Joy Yaxk’in, PO Box 1988, Sedona AZ 86339 Ph: 928-282-6292 Webpage: www.AlunaJoy.com – E-mail alunajoy@kachina.net Copyright © 2005 – Permission is granted to copy and redistribute this article on the condition that the content remains complete, full credit is given to the author(s), and that it is distributed freely. Center of the SUN – Aluna Joy Yaxk’in, PO Box 1988 Sedona, AZ 86339 USA Ph:520-282-6292 Ph/Fax:520-282-4622 Email: alunajoy@1spirit.com website: www.AlunaJoy.com

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