Charmed Monday Minute, Feb. 19

To my lovely readers and friends: Gosh, I appreciate you guys. Thanks so much to all of you who read this and to those who send Joya (charmedassistant@aol.com) such nice emails.

I had an amazing experience: Valentine’s Day was day #10-in-a-row without any headaches (for those of you who missed it, I had Novocain-gone-wrong back in November, and it left me with recurrent head pain). I wrote in my journal that my new treatment protocol was “a miracle.” That afternoon around 4, the miracle ended and I was struck with another migraine-like episode. It was so discouraging since I thought everything was under control.

Anyway, I lay down, hoping to be okay by 6 when William and I were to leave for dinner. I wasn’t. We cancelled the reservation. I was hoping against hope that I’d be okay by 7 so we could go to A Chorus Line on Broadway; we’d had the tickets for months. But I just couldn’t raise my head. At 7:15, however, something happened. I sat up. Then I got up. I said to William: “I have to push through the pain and go to that show. If not, I feel as if the darkness will win.” In adorable pragmatic guy fashion, he said, “I don’t think it’s the darkness: it’s a headache.”

I didn’t recognize myself. It was like I’d been possessed, but in a good way. Not only was I having a migraine: the weather outside was deplorable – we were in the middle of an ice storm, lots of wind, and temperatures just high enough to ensure that there’d be big puddles of slush. I don’t do well in weather like that. On most such nights, I’d have welcomed an excuse to stay in. But there was a fire inside me. I didn’t have time to put on makeup or anything, so I just threw on clothes, tossed an extra pair of shoes and socks in my bag (I knew I’d have wet feet upon arrival), and we trudged out to fight for a cab. We finally flagged one and made it to the theater. My head still hurt, but my soul felt magnificent. I kept thinking of that phrase, “Get thee behind me, Satan,” only it was, “Get thee behind me, headache and ice storm and anything that would like to hold me back.”

The show was terrific (the curtain call was worth the price of the tickets: they came out in rhinestone suits and did a good old-fashion kick-line) but the triumph I felt deep inside was even better. I told William on the way home, “I haven’t felt like this since I went bungee-jumping.” He looked at me like he had no idea what I was talking about but as if he loved me a lot anyway. And I’ve felt stronger and braver and more ready-for-anything ever since.

Happiness of the week: The dogs of New York. There are all different kinds, all different sizes, and they’re so adorable in their winter jackets. More than that, they are like love itself wrapped up in dog suits. Next week I’ll get to dog-sit my beloved Aspen (left) who now lives with my daughter. I can hardly wait.

Fun and funny link of the week: Actress, comic and author Cathryn Michon (who is also my adorable friend who is funny and gorgeous and has the best energy this side of a PowerBar factory) is starring in the hilarious movie, Cook Off! It’s the story of people who compete in a million dollar cook off, sort of like Best in Show at a cooking competition. The film is based on her book, The Grrl Genius Guide to Life, and is premiering at this year's Aspen Comedy Festival. She and Wendi McLendon-Covey (Clemmie from "Reno 911") play sisters from Blue Earth, Minnesota who are competing against each other and are dubbed "The Venus and Serena Williams of the Cook Off." The cast is a cavalcade of comedy all-stars including: Diedrich Bader (Napoleon Dynamite), Stephen Root (Office Space), Mindy Sterling (Austin Powers), Melissa Peterman ("Reba"), Mo Collins (The 40 Year Old Virgin), Markie Post (There's Something About Mary), Gavin Macleod ("The Love Boat," "The Mary Tyler Moore Show"), Louie Anderson ("Life With Louie"), Marcia Wallace ("The Bob Newhart Show," "The Simpsons"), and way too many more to name here. It premiers this month at the Aspen Comedy Festival. Here is the link. Go! You’ll be glad you did! Laugh of the week: Joya (that’s who you’re writing to when you send something to charmedassistant@aol.com) sent me this link when I was stressing over getting used to a new computer and operating system. It’s a very funny short clip about a guy in the 1600s who was having a hard time getting used to this new-fangled invention, the book: YouTube video

Question of the week: I would love some information on how best to envision the reality we create, while remaining open to what God, the Goddess, and the Universe believes is best for us. In particular, I am planning a move that I’m excited about, but it involves my whole family so I feel a lot of responsibility for it working out all right. – A. Dear A – I relate so much. When I wanted to move to NYC, I had a husband, a daughter, and three stepchildren to think of. When something is right, though, it seems to fall into place for all concerned. That has been my experience anyway. I also know what you mean about the conflict that sometimes seems to exist between my desires and God’s will. I believe that our desires (unless they’re perverted by greed or addiction) are planted in us by God. We’re supposed to go after them. Sometimes they morph into something else, or we get a blessing different from but greater than the one we thought we wanted. I think that lovely prayer ending some people use – “This, God, or what You know is better” – is a beautiful safety valve. When you make a vision-map and put something spiritual in the center, that’s a reminder that all your desires are fine to have, but you don’t see the whole picture; none of us does. As long as we recognize that and know that we’re supposed to go forward as we see fit, yet ever be willing to shift gears as the Higher Power directs, we’ll do just fine. And bless you – and your family – in your new home. -- Victoria

COUNTDOWN TO VICTORIA'S NEW BOOK, Fat, Broke & Lonely No More: Your Personal Solution to Overeating, Overspending, and Looking for Love in All the Wrong Places ...14 weeks and 4 days!

Happy week, all!