Back to School!

I'm feeling guilty about this post, but I'll just have to push through it because I'd much rather write about my Intro to Digital Sound class than put the effort into writing about what Vince Vaughn does between takes and how Ron Howard surprised me. Sorry guys, but I need a bit of self-indulgence tonight, so Digital Sound is for me.

It was great, really. I got there early. I got filled in on last week's assignment. NONE! Yeah! I do have to look up a man named, Tom Dowd, on YouTube, but other than that; nothing.

Our instructor goes very quickly once he gets going. Thank God, he had a great Power Point presentation on the Science of Sound because it helped me take notes. I really wasn't expecting a Science lesson to kick things off, but it was interesting. I can see how it is an important part of our training. We got refamiliarized with how our ears work and waveform -vs- sine waves. We also got a great bit of education about a Sound Pioneer named, John Cage. He pioneered making music using noise. Technically speaking, there are two kinds of sound; music and noise. Music is structured and has rules. Noise is everything else. I didn't know that before. I learned a lot today.

We started our first assignment today, too. We went to six separate locations and listened for five minutes noting all the different sounds we heard and what they sounded like. This was more difficult and more enjoyable than I'd imagined it would be. I picked a quiet outdoor setting (The Military Memorial), a crowded outdoor setting (The Picnic area right outside the main lobby of the school), a crowded indoor area (The Main Lobby with Water Fountains), a slightly busy and rather embarrassing location (The Womens Restroom right off the Main Lobby), a quiet indoor setting (Empty Lecture Hall A162), and a completely secluded indoor location (The Second Floor Stairwell outside A162). The hardest parts of the assignment was finding descriptive words for the various sounds because we were to write what a plane flying overhead sounded like, not just write "a plane flying overhead." Well, analizing sounds for tone, volume, tenor, etc. is something that I have very little experience with. I did my best.

After we had spent 30-45 minutes out in the school noting all the sounds that we heard, we were to return to the classroom and write up six paragraphs about our experience in each location. I got back relatively early and started typing pretty quickly. I was the fourth person to return to the classroom, not that it really matters. When the instructor told us that we had fifteen minutes to finish up our paragraphs, I was only on #3; so I correctly imagined that most of the class that had arrived after me was probably not as far as I was. As a result, I laughed one of those, "Yeah Right" laughs and got in trouble for it. Yep. First day of class for me and already got in trouble. The instructor sternly said, "It's not funny." Well, I thought it was funny, so :P. In any case, I kicked it into high gear, cut my descriptions for my last three paragraphs in half and made the fifteen minute deadline. Whew.

IMPORTANT NOTE: I'M SO GLAD I'VE BEEN BLOGGING!!!!! I can think quickly and write it all down just as quickly. Whew! I had no idea that my self-imposed exercise would prove to be so valuable. Really. I didn't. Here's a HUGE SHOUT OUT to me and my goofy ideas that seem to pay off sometimes. :D

For the last fifteen minutes of the class, the instructor gave a Mac Basics lesson for those who have not used Mac before. I kinda listened since I have used Mac before. He did not get to the Soundtrack Pro 2 software lesson that he had planned on, so we didn't start the third part of this assignment which is to take our three favorite paragraphs and turn them into something using Soundtrack Pro 2. This worries me, but he did his best to reassure me that there would be plenty of time between September 13th when our next class meets and September 20th when the assignment is due. We have no homework until then. I'm still worried, so I'll see what I can figure out before then. BB has Soundtrack Pro 2 on his Mac, so we'll see if I can get a voucher from Financial Aid for books and get going on my own.

I also apologized for offending him with my laughter and tried to explain that I laugh. He replied, "Oh. An impulse thing." Hmmmmm. Computer people. Well, maybe it is an impulse thing, but I like to laugh, need to laugh, and will probably hold my laughter until I've proven myself to him. I annoyed him earlier in class when I contradicted him regarding brain cells regenerating, too. It was when he asked for comments about our experiences that I knew that he was starting to dislike me, though. I commented that my experience in the stairwell was annoying. He was displeased, so I explained that it was loud and hurt my ears. He thought the sounds of the ventilation system and whatever was buzzing and rattling sounded cool. I responded that it made my ears ring even more than they usually do thinking that he would relate because he has Tinnitus, too. He was unsympathetic. This is why I apologized. I can't have him forming negative opinions about me already, can I? I like his pacing and educational style. Gees. I think I did a bit of good damage control. I'll keep the spin on for a while and see how it goes.

My next class is Scriptwriting on Wednesday night. I have to get to the school library, look at the Art Gallery there, pick a painting, and come up with a premise for a story based on how that painting moves me. I also have to read a script and watch the show or movie that script is about before class on Wednesday night; so that, I can discuss it. BB has the script for "Little Miss Sunshine", and we own the movie. If I can find the script for "JFK" that Oliver Stone sent me, I'll watch the "JFK" DVD that BB got for me at the library today. I'm hoping that I find it, so maybe I'll head to the basement now to look. Maybe I'll look in the office first. Maybe I'll be wise and just use the "Little Miss Sunshine" script and movie since they're both sitting right beside me. It is a time to use my time wisely, afterall.

So that's school. I like being in school. I like doing this technical, intellectual, focused brain work. It makes me happy. I just wish that what I'm really interested in getting my Masters in was more marketable. I'm still hooked on Film, Television and Theatre - probably societal value and history aspects of it all. We'll see what happens when I do some more research on this. In the meantime, I'm planning on at least one more semester at this school because I'm gunning for Final Cut Pro to wrap up a documentary I shot in 2003. I don't think I'll really rest until I've finished that project.

OK, take care. I'm off to veg. BB picked up "500 Days of Summer" for me starring Joseph Gordon Levitt. I've been wanting to see it for a long, long time - AND NOW - I'm treating me again - BECAUSE - tomorrow is another long, long day.

Sweet Dreams!

Exhausted

Another productive day that has exhausted me, so off to bed I go because tomorrow is scheduled to be even more productive. What can I say? I'm a busy lady these days.

I did end my night watching a bit of the Emmys. That was fun. It really was. My TV cut out during David Straithern's speech, and I really like him even though I'm pretty sure I misspelled his last name. George Clooney got me thinking about long-term help for those in need. Not having cable, I didn't see a lot of the shows, movies, and miniseries; but it was nice to hear about them because now I can look for them on Netflix. :D

Tomorrow I'll be running and gunning starting at about 6:30am. I'll be going to school and much, much more. It's time for me to sleep now.

I'm hoping things settle down by Thursday. I'm telling you, "I've got one heck of a week ahead of me." All good thoughts for me and mine are appreciated.

As always, "Take care & Sweet Dreams."

Another Day - Another Way

Well, it's late, and I've had a busy day of running errands, doing homework, applying for work, knitting, and trying to watch "The Legend of 1900" DVD. Unfortunately, the DVD is shot. I am bummed. It's a great movie starring Tim Roth if you ever feel like watching it. It's a quiet movie with fantastic piano playing scenes, beautiful costumes, excellent cinematography, and brilliant acting.

I have no energy to write about Extra work or the Princess and Gadyen. Sorry.

The good news is that I have done well today and am now headed to bed to watch either "The Ghost Writer" with Pierce Brosnan and Ewan McGregor or "Greenberg" with Ben Stiller. "The Ghost Writer" is a political intrigue/scandal movie, and "Greenberg" is a "dramedy", I think. Decisions, decisions. I should have such problems all the time in my life. :D

Thanks to my many helpers and to all the people who are doing their best to move forward in a positive way. I am forever grateful and inspired. I'm also very lucky that most of these people are members of my family. I am so proud of so many.

Take care, All. Sweet Dreams. -- OH! ... and tomorrow is another busy day, so it's most probable that ... ah shoot ... I'll do my best to write a bit of something about seeing Ron Howard and/or Vince Vaughn in person for the first time.

Here's to many "Happy Days" for all of us! (I couldn't resist - LOL)

Change Perspective

I have been away from my blog for two days on purpose. It was a conscious decision though possibly not a good decision. That's how it goes sometimes. I've been floundering, in case you haven't noticed. You've noticed, I'm sure; so let's try to resolve this issue.

My blog changed tone a while back because I made another conscious decision not to write about certain people and certain events in my life. I restricted my freedom of expression in the interest of protecting my privacy and the privacy of so many that I love. Things happened in my life that I don't feel are appropriate to share for a wide variety of reasons. I've been struggling with the new format. Quite honestly, I'm struggling with it even as I type this.

To date, I've got my Extra stories to finish, and people may or may not still be interested. The movie has wrapped, and I was kinda waiting until it did to share some of my experiences and thoughts about some of the "major players" until it had wrapped. I guess I could look at this as accomplishing a goal. Why not.

I started a completely improvisational short story about a Princess and her most trusted friend, Gadyen. I cannot remember the entire process of settling on the name, Gadyen; but I do remember looking at other languages for a word that meant what I wanted the character to be about. I settled on Gadyen after about a half hour of research. The following is a description of the Shan word, "Lawg Gad Yen", that I just found. The Shan live in the Shan State of Burma (Myanmar). I am happy with my choice of name. As a side note, it is quite understandable that the Shan would have such a word in their vocabulary:

Shan: Lawng Gad Yen
Posted on January 5th, 2010 by Nicholas Farrelly

v.ifjuwf;,Aef

Relates to peace

The Shan word for peace is gad (uwf;), meaning ‘to be cold, cool’ combined with yen (,Aef), ‘to be quiet, still, calm’, to become ‘peaceful, happy, free from outward troubles.’ Yen also has the added meaning of ‘being quiet after a conflict.’ The substantive prefix lawng (v.ifj) simply turns the word into a noun.

Another word is also commonly used by villagers, gad yen kyan sa (uwf;,Aefcsmrf;oMb), which combines the Shan word for peaceful with the Burmese word kyan tha (csrf;om) which in itself means ‘to have peace and quiet.’

These words mean more than a mere lack of fighting. Both words carry the meaning of wanting to live without being disturbed by other people or peoples. The term is not expressly linked to the withdrawal of Burmese forces, but rather the absence of conflict or war. However, it is be associated with a lack of oppression and human rights abuses, and conflict which for many Shan are tied up with the civil war. As such in popular consciousness there is a perception that if the Burmese Army left – especially if there was independence – there would be peace in Shan State.

The SSA (North), a ceasefire group, has coined the word lawng ngam yen (v.ifjirf;,Aef) to talk about peace. The word ngam (irf;), ‘to offer shade’, takes the place of gad and the whole term literally means ‘the offer of cool shade.’ This reflects the regional differences in the Shan dialects.

There is also this meaning from the Haitian Creole – English Dictionary with Basic English – Haitian Creole Appendix by Jean Targète and Raphael G. Urciolo that I know played a role in my decision:

gade, gad 1 vt 1. To look (at), to behold, to
glance (at). 2. To watch, to watch over, to attend
to. 3. To keep; to store up. 4. To raise (animals).

gadyen an n Watchman, guardian*, caretaker,
guard*, keeper, shepherd.

gadyendbi a Goalie, goalkeeper. Haitians also
use the word ‘goal keeper'

So there's just a little bit of the thinking that I do sometimes while writing about things.

Here's an antidote: I once had the pleasure of emailing a famous author regarding how and why he picked a certain name for one of the characters in one of his books. He simply responded that he couldn't really remember, but that he did know more than one person by that name and maybe our previous conversation had made an impact on his writing. I liked his answer because of his simple honesty. It was comforting. I could hear his voice in his written words. It made me feel good. He was very kind to me once upon a time, and I'm glad I met him. I continually hope that he and his family are doing well because of our few brief encounters.

That's the thing, you know. There are long-standing relationships and brief encounters that shape us all every day. I suppose the long-standing relationships are more important, but the brief encounters remain in my heart, too. The tidbits of my life bolster me throughout my life, and I just can't let go of all these moments that have led me to where I am now. Because I met this author, I strive to be as good to others as he was to me. I understand a public versus private persona, but I'll take what I can get when I can get it and expect no more. It's up to me to make of it what I will. I choose to let the simplest, good acts lift me up. I don't really think it's a Blanche Dubois moment. I just enjoy incorporating these times into my bag of tricks. I think of the Dalai Lama and so many in war-torn countries; people who lack fresh water, food, homes and medicine. It puts my mind right to think of the bigger picture, and how one act of practical kindness can change a person. I know that I've been changed for the better because of each and every kind exchange that I've ever had. I like sincere compassion, so I'm doing my best to spread it around.

So - From now on, I'll do my best to focus on finishing up my unfinished stories, keep you posted on how I'm doing on my goals (which is not so bad these days - I'm drinking water right now :D), and simply being honest. My intent is compassion, entertainment, and interesting stories that will lead us all to a better place. The villains will be bad. The heroes and heroines will be good. I'll do my best to present a multi-dimensional perspective to my writing, and we'll see how it goes.

Take care, All. Remember, there are so many who are far worse off than you are, but that does not mean that what you're going through isn't valid and important. It just means that it might help to put things in perspective and give you some strength during your more difficult days.

Here's a saying I made up:

"No Blood, No Guts,
No Bombs, No Bullets ...
It's a Good Day."

Pretty Darn Good Day

Well in the world of goals, I've met quite a few today.

Had a brilliant time in the city. It was a gorgeous day. The drive down was fabulous because we took Sheridan to Lake Shore. Such beautiful architecture ... and the lake! If you ever get the chance to drive Sheridan Road on the North Shore of Chicago, please do so. It's a feast for the eyes and very relaxing. You'll see the Baha'i Temple and Northwestern University. You'll also see just about every style of home along the way. Then, of course, is Lake Shore Drive which takes my breath away and restores my spirits every time I travel it. Lincoln Park to one side, the boat slip to the other, beaches, the skyline; they all thrill me, still.

I love watching people. There are so many different people in the city. I found myself captivated by a black, heavy-set woman simply wearing a black suit, white shirt and heels. She looked like she was in pain and had something troubling on her mind. Of course there were tons of young professionals and tourists. A few caught my eye, but none really made me wonder what they were all about. I was intrigued by an Indian couple with two small children. They looked to be grandparents with their grandchildren. They were kind and positively protective - calming. There were plenty of beggars, too; but I didn't give them any money today. I've pretty much stopped giving them money. I always used to, but then I got to thinking about what my money might be spent on; so I stopped. I saw a man give a woman beggar a couple of granola bars. That made me think that the next time I go to the city that I'll pack a few and maybe some apples or bananas. Well, the next thing I knew I was imagining a murder mystery about someone who would give poison apples to the beggars....

That's as far as I got before I was over the Chicago River looking at the water taxis. I think the whole concept of water taxis is very cool. I'm trying to think of a reason to take one somewhere. I'll have to check into it.

Today it was sunny, so the light was bouncing off and being sucked into the different surfaces magically. My favorite building, designed by a woman architect, has the most interesting balconies. They're curved and undulating. It kinda looks like tree bark made of white concrete and blue glass. I am unimpressed with the new Trump Tower. At least it is innocuous enough that it doesn't take away from the world famous Chicago skyline. That's the best I can say about it. One of the best things about going to the city is finding new sights right where I've walked hundreds of times. I discovered a skyscraper with an ornate, old first two stories and royal blue and lime green for the rest of it going up. I also highly recommend looking like a tourist when going to the city because you're spending a lot of time looking up at the buildings from different angles. I never would've discovered this delightful building if I hadn't been doing just that.

I got to take the train home. I love the trains. I mean, I really love the trains. Riding the train always reminds me of the time that my grandma and I took the train up to her house from my house. It took hours. We sat and talked and watched the world go by. I love trains.

Today I did some knitting while I was riding home. I FINALLY did some knitting, again! Wow! It was so nice and relaxing to sit there and just knit in the cool, cool train. Knitting reminds me of my grandma, too.

Think what you will, but I can feel my grandparents around me a lot lately. I've felt them around me for most of my life, so maybe it's just sense memory of hugs, kisses, and kind words; maybe it's their spirits. I don't know, and I don't care. It comforts me to remember them and know how much they loved and cared for me. It comforts me to feel them with me. When I remember them, I believe in myself because they believed in me. I was everything I was meant to be in their eyes every time they looked at me. I was so very lucky to have them in my life for as long as I did ... and still do, huh.

On my walk home, I stopped by a local French bakery and treated myself to an eclair. It was yummy. I finished it before I passed the library, so I stopped in an Italian specialty/gourmet food shop. It's an amazing place. I treated myself to some homemade artichoke ravioli and pesto sauce along with some shredded parmegiano cheese and a truly decadent pint of mint chocolate gelato. I will now state an official opinion, "Gelato is FAR BETTER than ice cream or frozen yogurt." Needless to say, dinner was excellent. :D

To make my good day great, I watched "Mamma Mia!" for the first time. What a fantastic, feel-good movie! Why did I wait so long to see this?! I mean, Colin Firth is in it! I watch anything he's in.... DUH. I'm very glad that SA brought it over and watched it with me.

I'm going to bed because I've got school tomorrow and more decisions to make. I think I better do some exercises tomorrow, too. All my treats may have just added all the weight back on that I lost due to my food poisoning... maybe not. Maybe I actually lost weight due to watching what I've been eating and drinking lots of water.

So, in one little visit to the city, I accomplished three goals; going to the city, walking and knitting. Not bad. In one little day, I accomplished quite a few more goals like not worrying, laughing, eating well, and more.

Now it's time to say, "Good Night and All My Best to You & Yours. Sweet Dreams."

I Rock!

I've been up since 6:30am. I have been running and gunning all day. Traveling here and there with forms and paperwork for school, unemployment and more. I have done very well today with all the mundane, not-so-fun parts of life. I have earned a good night's sleep.

I will repeat the same tomorrow except if all goes well, I will go to the Art Institute, too.... or at least Millennium Park or something fun in the city. Remember that goal? I do because ....

I Rock!

Long, Good Day

That's about it, Folks. It's been a long and good day. Got a lot done. Got out in the wonderful weather. Getting to bed because I start school tomorrow. How's that for short and to the point?

Sweet dreams, All.

Food Poisoning

Haven't been poisoned in years and forgot how terrible it can be. I made some banana bread on Thursday and think the bananas were a bit too ripe. Man did I pay for my mistake. It's taken up until now to feel human again. There was no way I could type/write anything. Man, Food Poisoning is terrible. Won't be doing that again.

The good news is that I've lost weight! Currently, I weigh 253.7 pounds with my clothes on. This is huge! I've been hovering around 260-270 for too long. I'll keep up the exercise and sensible eating for sure. Just don't think I'll ever be able to eat banana bread again.

That's it for now. I'm headed to get some 7Up or something, and then, I'm back to wind up my recuperation and continue with the house cleaning/organizing. School starts on Monday, and I plan on being ready for whatever comes my way.

Take care.

Peace and Persistence

Peace and persistence were the themes for today. It's been a long productive day, and those two elements have played a very important role.

The peace part has been growing as I focus on praying that everyone connect with their Higher Power; and that, love and enlightenment enter everyone's lives. It's difficult to let go and simply hope for the best, but I'm finding that this hope backed by sincere work produces some great results. I've had a lot of help achieving my peace, and I am grateful. Whenever I find myself slipping, I send a prayer or meditation up; and then, I usually ask for help from friends and/or family. Picking the right person in the right situation is key. I am very lucky to have so many to pick from. So I'm happy to report that I'm at peace, right now. That's good because it's time for bed.

I know that it is time for bed because Ziggy is telling me so. He is very persistent. His persistence is one of his more charming and annoying characteristics. I do love him for it because he makes me laugh all the time with his kavetching. What can I say? He knows what he wants and what role I play in his plans. It's nice to have a smart cat to tell me what to do. I mean it.

I was persistent today when I was asking for an exception to a pre-requistite for a class that I want to take. I'm happy to report that my persistence paid off. I will be taking Scriptwriting Fall 2010 Semester at school - if my Financial Aid comes through. I find out about that on Friday, I hope.

The last bit of the peace and persistence theme is that I got out of the house for a good portion of the day. I was treated to a great lunch at one of the best family restaurants I know of; The Lantern. They had a burger Lunch Special for $5.95 that was great. I drank water with my meal! This evening I drove around deciding if I wanted to go to a movie (no) or buy a movie at Best Buy (no - because Best Buy has diminished their stock considerably). I ended up doing a bit of scouting for a dress shirt to go with one of my suits. Happy to report that Marshall's has a ton of suitable (ha ha - I made a funny) shirts. I'll take my suit with me and go back to decide. For between five and twelve dollars, I should be able to come up with something nice. I was very persistent in my search, and now am at peace.

So, persistently focusing on peace is a good thing. Persistently working to get what I need is a good thing. And do I really need to say it? Being persistently peaceful is a good thing, too. That's my goal. I know I can't possibly be peaceful all the time, but I can be persistent in achieving my goal.

OK, I admit it. This one is rather hokey. I'm on the fly here. I haven't quite finished my tasks for the day, and Ziggy is getting kinda upset. Take care, All. Sweet Dreams. Keep Hope Alive!

Peace.

Where Did the Day Go?

I'm in shock. I got so much done today that it's ridiculous. I've run two loads of dishes and laundry, cleaned the kitchen, signed up for all my classes, run a bunch of errands, got all the trash and recycling out and broken down, and done a pretty good job of exercising while doing housework. I like to exercise with purpose. I'll be adding the enjoyable walk and bike ride soon, I guess. Just have a lot to do around here.

That's it, really. Just was headed to bed and realized that I really did get quite a bit done and was shocked. No wonder I'm tired.

Good Night, All. Sweet Dreams. Here's to another productive day.

One Month

It's been one month
I've thought of you every day
I miss you
I hope you're doing OK

It's been one month

Monday, Monday

Goodness. I'm up early and getting ready for a day of errands. Maybe I'm up too early. Think I'll head back to bed for another hour or so. Wouldn't make sense to head out too early and not be able to take care of business because businesses aren't open yet. Duh.

I'll save this and add to it later.

Well, I'm back after a few very good hours. I think we'll try something new with today's blog post. I'm not posting it until tonight and adding to it throughout the day. I mean, it's really been rather boring lately; so maybe this will spice it up.

Before I go, let me just tell you a few things.

1. I am cooking creamed corn and chicken cordon bleu thanks to my wonderful friends who moved to New Jersey. YAY! Lunch is going to be fantastic. I won't be adding salad, though maybe I should.... I'll have veggies tonight for dinner.

2. I've gotten the recycling bins set up in the mud room, sorted through the overflowing recycling up here and will be headed to the can crusher in the basement after lunch. :D

3. It is a perfect day weather-wise. I mean perfect. It's perfect to be inside with the windows open and the fans going. It's perfect to be out in the yard cleaning up. It's perfect to be in the basement doing chores. It is a perfect day. :D

4. Right now, I am verklempt. If you don't know the meaning of the word, it means, "choked up with emotion/extremely emotional/on the verge of tears" and is Yiddish. Sometimes people come into my life who perform a mitzvah so great that I become verklempt. A mitzvah is often defined as a good deed, but it has a deeper meaning, too. It also means, "commandment, precept, duty, pious action, kind act." While I'm not Jewish, I've enjoyed learning a bit of Yiddish along the way. So I am verklempt because my family has benefited from someone's mitzvah. Thank you so very much dear kind people who have touched my life today. It's amazing what one very short conversation can do for me. :D

OK, that's it for now. Lunch is done, and I'm hungry. I'll be back with more reports. BTW, I'm drinking water and this is my second meal of the day! :D

Well, I'm headed to bed in a bit.
The weather is still perfect.
I got all the recycling transferred down to the mud room with cans crushed and all boxes broken down. I'm very happy about that.
My lunch was great, and I'm a member of the Clean Plate Club. I've finished off a whole bottle of pomegranate soda and would really like some chocolate, but I'm resisting the urge.
I did take a bit of a nap, too. :D
Part of clearing out the mud room was to bring up a black garbage bag filled with some of BB's stuff. I put everything in the bag away! :D
I went through my knitting and am sitting here deciding what I'm going to knit. When I finish this, I'll go finish that project.
My only complaint is that the outside of my right leg around my knee is a bit painful from sitting on the black desk chair. Right now I'm sitting on my core ball. That's helps alot.
That's all I have planned for the rest of tonight.

Tomorrow I have to finish signing up for my classes, do some laundry, run some errands, and look for work, as always. Nothing very exciting happening, but that is just how I like it. Really.

Sweet dreams, All. Remember, my prayer for everyone these days, "May everyone connect with their Higher Power, and may enlightenment and love enter our lives."

It's really been a pretty good day - PEACEFUL. :D I really can't describe how perfect the temp and breeze are... gentle and soothing. Maybe I'll go sit outside for a bit or something. It's been so long with the HOT, HUMID weather. sigh - :D

Yeah, it's been a very nice day. :D

Domestic Bliss

Today is a day for domestic bliss. I've cleaned the kitchen already. After BB gets up, I'll vacuum and dust. The recycling is out-of-control, so I'll be headed to the can crusher in the basement to take care of that. While I'm down there, I'll fold the three loads of laundry and do a bit more. It will be good to be in all parts of my home today because I have to make a punch list of a bunch of little stuff that needs to get done. I've only slept for about five hours, so a nap is definitely in order, too. In fact, I may just go back to bed when I finish writing this because I am tired.

The best part is that I'm going to relax and knit and possibly crochet today. I have projects to finish and want to start at least two more. I now own so many knitting needles and crochet hooks that I can work on multiple projects at once. I've got a ton of yarn, too; so here I come! BIG :D.

My goal is to stay away from the computer until tonight. I've done an excellent job of sending in job applications, and quite frankly, deserve a day off for myself and my hobbies and house.

Yesterday, I think I wrote about as much as I can write in a day. It's all very rough, but the bones are in place for a couple of short stories. I also researched about as much as I can research in a day which led to a very enjoyable couple of conversations and emails about pink flamingos. Tee Hee. All I can say is, "Who woulda thunk it." LOL - It is truely a small world filled with wonderful coincidences.

Hope everyone's Sunday is joyful. The following prayer has been floating through my brain, again; so I'll share:

"God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference."

With that, I'm going to meditate after I send up one more prayer, "Please let everyone connect with their Higher Power; and let their thoughts, actions and deeds be filled with enlightenment and love."

Peace be with you.

B O R I N G is a Goal!

It's almost 6pm, and I still have a bunch to do with my day. So far, I've looked for work, gotten lost in a bunch of internet browsing that turned up some very interesting bits of info, and now I'm getting ready to sign off of my computer for the evening and switch gears.

Yesterday was very productive. It felt good. I found one solution to my academic woes with the help of a wonderfully helpful woman in Admissions & Records. A HUGE Thank You to Her! I enlisted the aid of a woman at the Financial Aid office, so another HUGE Thank You to Her! BB and I spent five hours helping our friends get their house cleaned before they headed to New Jersey, so a HUGE Thank You to BB!

On the house cleaning thing; we did all the floors and bathrooms from the second floor to the basement. We also washed a few walls and window sills besides spending some time with the dogs we had grown to know. The atmosphere was wonderful with people laughing, telling stories, eating pizza (of course) and working very hard. We were all stinky, sweaty messes before the day was done; but we were happy and grateful to have had this last bit of time together. I'm hoping that their drive to went smoothly; and that, the entire family has arrived safely in New Jersey.

Someday (maybe tomorrow) I'll get back to writing about my Extra work and finish that short story about the Princess and Gadyen. I've just been focusing on school, finding a job, and taking care myself.

I'm happy to report that

I'm switching to water for the evening and have been drinking plenty of the liquid
along with eating at least three times a day.
Soon I'll be able to cross of the whole school paperwork thing.
I do laugh
and hug every day, too.
My meditating has grown to an every day occurrence, so I'm very happy about that.
My exercise can be increased, so I'll keep working on my improvement there.
I'm still planning the garage sale and am kinda stuck on a date, but plan on getting that resolved very soon.
Let's see, I'm still writing the blog; so that's taken care of.
I'm going to do the bit of picking up that needs to be done; so that, the house will continue to be clean and sparkling.
I haven't worried today - YIPPEE!
I haven't written anything for the stories that I'd like to sell lately, but I have been going over character analysis and structure in my mind; so it's time to get it all down on paper and see what it looks like.
The whole daily schedule thing has been a disaster, but I haven't given up.
I've been downtown and plan on returning because I always see something beautiful and inspiring when I go.
The whole not calling anyone who doesn't want to hear from me is "easy-peasy"!
I'm getting my sleep, especially since I've been so productive; and it feels great!
AND -
For the first time in a long time, I feel like knitting and/or crocheting, so I plan on doing a bit after I do my bit of picking up.

That's pretty much all of my twenty items on my list of goals. There are a few omissions, but that's OK, right? Yeah, I know it is.

Well, if you've read this extremely mundane post - KUDOS TO YOU! You are a stalwart reader, and I am humbled by your loyalty. All my best to you because we all deserve the best in life. Many good thoughts your way. Peace Be With You.

FYI: I did a bunch of work on the blog today, so my percentage has gone down a bit. I'm still over 73% of all hits being original hits, but the percentage was almost at 75%; so I'm a bit bummed. Oh well, Onwards and Upwards!

Today

Well, one Personal Statement, one Loan Request Essay, one MORE Official Transcript, a bunch of forms and I are headed up to school to sort things out. I'm tired as all get up, but I've done what I can.

Writing because I don't imagine that after I get done helping a friend clean their house before they move to New Jersey tonight that I'll be much in a mood for anything but sleep. It's supposed to be around 100 degrees with the heat index today. I hope her A/C is working.

Have a good one, everyone. Haven't done a report in a while, so just know that basically I'm doing fine on my goals. Actually, when I get this stuff taken care of today, I'll be able to check something completely off the list. Now there's a nice thought.

Argh!

I've spent an entire day working on Financial Aid and Enrollment stuff for school. I am frustrated and headed to bed, so I can get up at around 4:30am to finish up before heading up to the school to get more help. ARGH! I plan on being up there before 8am, getting stuff taken care of and heading back to my area for an 11am appointment.

I'm so frustrated with the school because my Financial Aid status is still showing as in Default when it's really in Deferment, and I handed in my Official college transcript months ago; but the info still hasn't been entered. This means that TECHNICALLY I don't qualify for any Student Loans, and I can't sign up for the English class that I want.

I never have forgotten the frustration of dealing with higher education bureaucracies. It's far too traumatizing to forget!

(*^%#$@#&^&*()(&*^$GIN(&T&^EW%^()&(^T$%FGUJH#$%^&*IJHBFR$#ER^&*(!!!!!!!!!!

Better day tomorrow. I'm going to make sure of it. Sweet dreams, All!

Good Morning

Well, in a little over one half hour I will be going to cook zucchini bread with my friend. I'm looking forward to getting back together with her to do something "country" like our country grandmas. We both cherish and revere our grandmas because the list of what they taught us about life and being women is endless. We've had to come to the conclusion that we are lucky enough to have been influenced by saints right here on Earth. We strive to carry their message and our memories of them forward. It's one of the happiest and best experiences I have; spending time with my friend carrying forward a simple, enjoyable, and practical way of life focused on nurturing family and friends.

As I sit at my desk, I look at the top shelf of the closest bookcase in our office. From left to right are two dictionaries, two Bibles, "Taking Charge of Your Career", "The Art of War", "Stop Worrying and Start Living", "The Power of Positive Thinking", "Get Over It and Get On With It", "Eat, Pray, Love", "The Analects of the Conversations of Confucius with His Disciples and Certain Others", a Spanish-English Dictionary, a file folder, "The South Beach Diet", "thinking like a cat", "Women & Money", and "Round the World on a Penny." These are most often used Reference Books.

On the next shelf down, are my Art History and Instruction books; my Theatre & Film technical books, plays and scripts; my Meditation, Yoga, Massage and Alternative Medicine book; a Bike Repair book; and my Spanish lesson book. These books remind me of who I am and make me happy, too.

Below these two shelves are two more shelves filled with art and office supplies and office files. It is only the bottom shelf that needs any organizing, really. We've been working on the office steadily, and we're reaping the rewards of our efforts. This makes me happy, too.

I am lucky to be able to find something so close to me that makes me happy in the simplest of ways. Because I worked in the library when I was in elementary school both at our elementary school and at the local public library, my shelves are organized according to subject matter. Because it is my personal collection, the books are organized according to personal importance, too.

One of my grandmothers was a Second Grade teacher. One of my grandmas was a housewife who read voraciously. Both my parents "eat" books. At this point in my life, I prefer to eat zucchini bread. HA! LOL

Have a great day, All. I'll be thinking about our world, and how we can all make it a bit better. For now, zucchini bread is my method. It provides so many opportunities to nurture others. I'll definitely be freezing at least one loaf for a special occasion down the road. I will share it at that time along with stories about my grandmas and many more strong women who love unconditionally, and why this is such a good part of our world.

Zucchini Bread

Later today I will be baking zucchini bread. I'll be doing a "country lady thing" and getting together with a friend to crank out mass quantities. :D

It's been a long, very full, good day. I'll leave it at that and wish you all continued happiness and success.

Remember, Professionals Don't Panic.

Milestone

Well a significant milestone has occurred without mention, so I'll mention it.

This blog was started on April 8, 2010. One hundred twenty four posts later, I have written almost every day for over one third of a year. Two things strike me about this accomplishment.

Firstly, to think that I am only technically one post behind on my "every day" goal impresses me. I've picked something to do that I like and can stick to on an almost daily basis no matter what is going on in my life. Actually, the one hundred twenty four posts include this post and a draft yet to be published. I've also written one post that I deleted later. Doing a bit of math, this means that I'm right on schedule. Yea Me!

Secondly, I can't believe that I've been at this for a third of a year. I remember being excited about fifty posts. Now it's over one hundred.

So here's to another milestone in my life. :D

There are ninety days until my birthday. I will be fifty one years old. Should all go well, this will bring me very close to the two thirds mark. For now, I'm going to just continue to take it one day at a time. Seems to be working. :D

Sharper Focus

Once upon a time I worked on a local news show called, Sharper Focus. The goal of the show was to present good news to our communities about our communities. It was a "fluff news" show. I liked working on it because the focus was positive. A new show was aired every three weeks, and I worked as a Cable Access Television Producer for just shy of seven years. Sharper Focus also featured "Year-In-Review" episodes and special events, such as all the local 4th of July Parades and festivities.

I've started going through my Sharper Focus Master Tapes. I've got almost five hours of segments that range in length from 1:30 - 9:00 minutes.

So far, I've seen my stories on the opening of a skate park, a Greyhound Rescue organization, "MacBeth" at Shakespeare on the Green, and the Three Time Small Fry Basketball Champions. I'll be checking out more stories for production value and content, and I have to say that what I've seen so far isn't half bad.

Of course, I'm heading down "Memory Lane" while I do this. I can't help thinking about how low my self-esteem was when I left, and how I let other people determine my perception of my self-worth. This is not a good memory, but I'm in a much different place in my life, now.

I have no problem commenting on a professional level about the quality of my work. Some of my work was very good. Some of it was not. Whatever my professional opinion may be, for the first time in a long time, I feel proud and happy about my work for
Sharper Focus. I'm looking at it with fresh eyes and realizing that for someone who did one summer internship with Public Access and went on to work for the organization that it's not so bad.

I'm being humble. Some of it is great. Yep. I said that.

I'm going to continue to give myself credit for carrying through on a plan. The plan was to get my Bachelor's in Theatre and work in Television. I did it. Once upon a time I came as close to having my dream job as I could imagine.

Working in Public Access allowed me to be close to home; so that, I could be a "hands-on mom." Within a structured framework, I was able to make my own forty hour work week schedule. If hours were long one week, I could take time off the next. The working atmosphere was also conducive to having children at either studio or on location with me. Because my schedule varied and my house was between the two studios, I could drop by my house to check on things, have a meal or pick up my children. It was a wonderfully flexible and wholesome existence that afforded me a a quality of life that I deemed necessary for me as a single mother. One of the best things about being out and about during the day was being able to check back at home when my children were teenagers; thus, thwarting many of their friends' questionable and stupid activities.

(Side Note: It amazed me how bold and downright dumb some of my children's friends and the downstairs neighbor's son's friends were when they were teens. The number of times that I came home to find not my children, but a group of their friends or my neighbor's teenage son's friends smoking pot or rifling through my belongings in my basement was alarming. This only went on for about two months, though. Two months too long, I know; but finally they got the message when I called the police on their silliness. The weirdest thing was that my children were at school involved in activities when all of these instances occurred. I guess that's a good thing except for the fact that some of the friends that they picked had definite boundary issues. The neighbor's kid was just a handful and so were his friends. I personally busted and called the parents that I knew four times; and then, on the fifth time I simply called the cops. I had warned all offenders that I would end up calling the cops if they continued their activities, so they really shouldn't have been surprised. It was hilarious to see them pile out of the basement into our yard and beyond as they ran. Some got caught, and I had to file a police report; but in the end nobody was too harshly punished - by the authorities at least. I have no idea what the parents did, but I do know that I was not liked by many. What's a woman to do? LOL I raised my children the best that I could, and they were smart enough to know that "Mom stops by our house whenever she can and feels like it." I'm not saying my children were angels, but in comparison; they were.)

OK, so that's it for the blog today. I've got a ton of stuff to do on my list, so there is no report. Nothing really to report yet, so off with me. I will be doing a ton of writing today and figuring out what college courses in Early Childhood Development that I'll be taking starting at the end of this month. I really do have a lot to do - Thank God.

What I've realized today and am going to be processing is how my low self-esteem has effected my forward momentum, and how I've changed over the last six and one half years for the better. The issue of low self-esteem and psychological abuse throughout my personal and professional lives has greatly impacted me, but I'm not hiding anymore. I'm headed to find more resources to educate and support me while I continue to - wait for it - Go Forward @ 50.

Take care. All my best to you and yours. Here's to many good days for all of us.