hopecamehome's Xanga

Life is good

Wed, 23 Jan 2008 22:24:52 GMT

There are some comercials that are meant to pursuade, some that are meant to sell, some that are meant to inform, and some that are meant to inspire. I've been seeing a few that are meant to inspire that I really like lately. They are the IBM's "Stop Talking. Start Doing" commercials. They are probably meant to inspire businesses to change the way business is done, but they have a way of inspiring individuals, the common person. The idea behind these commercials is to get businesses to stop talking about what they need to do, and actually do them. This relates to many of our lives on a personal level. Just about everyone will have a comment about "I need to start (insert whatever here)." Many times, that's where it ends. With that annoying period. I am guilty of that with several aspects in my life. With good intentions on doing things I want to do, or even need to do, somehow they fall through the cracks of life, and only appear again with that period.

I have been looking at a few things in my life where that period is still there, and haunts me. I have a gym membership that I don't use. It is an amazing gift to have, yet I don't use it. I tell myself many times that I'll go when this happens, or when that happens. Because, if those things happen, I will be motivated. Or how about saving money. That is a huge statement with a period that just seems to not budge. And paying off some debt. Even things at work sometimes end in a period. All good intentions, just falling through cracks of "busyness" and other things.

Now I tell you this because, even though there are alot of periods that I want to get rid of, life is good. Good does not mean perfect. It means everchanging. Life would be boring if it were perfect. Nothing would ever be different. No change. No spontaneity. Good allows room for things to not be finished and still be amazing. Good allows room for error without feeling guilty. Good allows room for fun.

I am inspired to do what that commercial says. Stop talking about the things I want and need to do. Start doing those things. Stop talking about a life I could have, and go get that life I want. That is the true meaning of good.

Pictures

Fri, 29 Jun 2007 03:06:50 GMT

We didn't take a lot, but here are some pictures from dinner at the Reata and ballet.

Quarter 1 and 2 report

Mon, 25 Jun 2007 00:54:55 GMT

Change is amazing!

Let's try a 6 month recap, with a little bit of fun.

I was laid off from my job of just over 4 and a half years back in January. They no longer needed a full time lab technician. This was a complete shock to everyone.

I collected unemployment for 3 months. That let me relax for a bit. I hung around the house and did a lot of cleaning and relaxing. I started to watch Rachel Ray in the morning. That woman is amazing! I learned how to make peanut butter and jelly french toast! Good stuff. Over the months, I started doing things to get rid of my boredom, which inclulded raking the leaves, bagging them up, and placing those 14 bags on the sidewalk for the trash to pick up. It also included cleaning out the gutters, which, I have to admit, was pretty fun. That was about the time that I figured I really, I mean really, needed to get a job.

I did some interviews, but nothing really seemed promising. I decided to look in the DFW area since I had been driving up there a lot anyway. A lot of things have changed, so I was a bit weary about moving to DFW finally, so I also looked in Austin. Finally, I accepted a job in Arlington. It seemed promising, so I started the beginning of April. Looks can be deceiving. Really. That place was horrible. I thought, since I was sick the first week, that it was only because I didn't feel good that things weren't right. But as I began to feel better, I realized it wasn't the environment for me. They double booked each appointment, every day. That resulted in some patients actually waiting 2 and a half hours for an eye exam. Not for me. So my 3rd week there, I decided I was leaving. Met with a doctor that called to interview me the day after I took the position at, what I would find out later, was a horrible place. That office seemed much better in how it would be run. The doctor wanted to hire me, but had to run some numbers. Monday, she offered the job to me. I gave my 2 week notice to the other place. That Thursday, I got to work, on time, and no one was there (which was normal for them, even the doctor). We opened at 9, I waited, and waited, and waited. Patients were driving up and getting out of the cars to find that we weren't opened yet. It was 9:30. I began to write a letter explaining to the doctor that I gave 2 weeks out of respect to the patients and the business but I couldn't fulfill that notice because of the lack of respect given to the patients by the staff and doctor's constant tardiness. Four patients came to the door and left by the time it was 9:42. I placed the letter on the door and pulled out of the parking lot, still no one ever showed.

I took the rest of the week and the following week off from working. I had agreed to start May 7th at the new place in Keller. I went home that weekend, and got a call from the new boss, asking if I could start earlier because she just fired someone. I told her I could start that next Friday, May 4th. I began that job with much more excitement. Since then, things have been amazing. I have bonded very well with my coworkers, and a lot with my boss. She has the philosophy that we can hang out after work, and be good buddies, and turn it back to professional when it's time for work. I am able to do that because I had to work on that when I worked with my mom. This new place has amazing benefits. Not only do we not double book, but it's a much better environment. The doctor gave us all memberships to 24 Hour Fitness, at the corporate cost, but is paying for the membership. We are encouraged to take the American Board of Optometrists Certification in the fall. If we pass, she's taking us on a weekened trip to South Beach next spring. We get health insurance, and she loves taking us out to eat. I couldn't be at a better place! I have no plans on leaving that office, and I know the doctor doesn't want me to leave. But she is realistic. She sees her office as a stepping stone to further our knowledge and careers. She'd love to have her staff for many many years, but knows that might not happen. I'm not going anywhere though. I love it there.

I have been hanging out at the coffee shop a lot. I have a lot of new friends there, since there are a lot of new faces. When I moved to Arlington, I stayed with an old friend from one of the churches up here. I have recently moved to Fort Worth in an apartment with my sister. Amazing. The drive to work is about 25 miles, which isn't too bad. Eventually, I will be moving to Keller.

Hmmm. What else has been going on?

My birthday was good. I got to go to Beto's with friends. I love Beto's! I was a photographer for a wedding. My friends, Chris and Erica got married. It was great! They loved the photos. I did senior portraits for my friend Kassy. They turned out amazing! I just went to the ballet this past Friday with a new friend, Raye Anne. The ballet was "Season Finale", which was just absolutely amazing! It was very emotional at times. Beforehand, we ate at The Reata Restaurant in Sundance Square. It is a beautiful place, and we ate out on the rooftop. Very nice. She looked amazing, and I got to wear my purple shirt and tie!

So, that basically has been the first half of the year. Nothing like I expected from January 1st. Change is amazing, even though it doesn't seem like it at first. I'm sure there are more things, but that's it for now.

Have a wonderful day!

The only sound around is the bubbles in the fishtank

Fri, 30 Mar 2007 04:52:31 GMT

Why am I awake? Big changes are coming up, and I need my rest. I've been like this for over a week now. I will go to sleep, and wake up in an hour or so, then can't get back to sleep for hours. I've watched too many infomercials during my attempts to fall back asleep. There is a good thing. Not many people are online, so I am able to sit and think in the dark without being tempted (in most cases) to get on the computer.

I'm getting things ready for a couple of "photoshoots". Kassy has asked me to take her senior photos, so I'm excited about doing that. And at the end of May, my friend, Erica, is getting married, and I'll be the photographer. These things make me nervous, but it's the good kind. I even got the courage to talk to one of the local photographers here in town, and he gave me some pointers and things I should invest in.

I've been enjoying the Texas spring weather. I've been rollin' with all my windows down in the Baja. Nothing puts you in a good mood like cruisin' with no where to go on a warm spring day, windows down, and jammin' to great music. Oh, and a nice peanut butter sandwich and a Dublin Dr. Pepper.

My heart is heavy with a few things. God will give me the peace to go on.

You are in my prayers.

When trapped in a fishbowl, make the best of it, and race around

Mon, 12 Mar 2007 02:52:02 GMT

I've been watching a lot of television lately. Just when I have come to the conclusion that everything "reality" on tv sucks, I find a program that is just absolutely amazing. On TLC, there is a new show called "My Life as a Kid". There are only six episodes, and two have aired so far. Both have been amazing. The TLC people gave 20 kids, ages from seven to 12, a video camera for four months to film...whatever they wanted. It is their life. Now, I'm sure that parents might have received some instructions on certain things they wanted the kids to talk about during the four months. And I'm sure that there is an agenda for the show, seeing as only three or four kids are shown for an hour episode, and each episode is titled, and it all talks about a certain topic. But the amazing thing about the show is the realness from the kids. Their honest answers. There are no hidden agendas from the kids. They tell their stories and their lives. There's no "I'm going to be a drama queen and become famous and get a spinoff show from this" mindset from the kids. If you have a chance, you should check it out. TLC, Monday's at 6 pm central.

I went to the movies the other day. I got back to my car, and the temperature gage read 91 degrees. Welcome to spring in Texas.

Dreadies-Bye, bye, bye

Tue, 20 Feb 2007 00:56:40 GMT

So, after just over 2 hours and 15 minutes, the dreadies are no more. I walked into the salon and asked about taking my dreadies out. They laughed and said "don't you mean shave them off?". I told them my plans, and it began. Five minutes of sitting in a chair, I looked down, and it looked like somebody bombed the playground (thanks Alyx). All my dreadies were scattered around the chair as if they just blew up off my head. Then, the main part of the day. Washing the wax out and picking out the dreadies. That took forever, but it was nice to get a head massage. After everything was good, and deep conditioned, I got a nice haircut. I will miss the dreadies. But, as with all things in life, change is good.

Dreadies-5 and a half months

Mon, 19 Feb 2007 01:38:34 GMT

Not a day just for lovers

Wed, 14 Feb 2007 14:30:55 GMT

I bought a bag of conversation hearts. I decided to open the bag, and dump them all out. I threw away the busted ones, and all the dust. Then, I started thinking "what could I do with them?". I found a piece of pink posterboard. Then, I decided to cut the posterboard to fit inside the empty conversation heart bag. I glued the hearts to the posterboard. I let that dry, and rolled it up a little to make it fit back in the bag. Then, since I had a few left over hearts, I placed them in the center. My mom has a food saver, so I resealed the bag. It looked perfect. Finally, I sent them to my sister. I woke up this morning, checked my email, and my sister started talking to me. This was the conversation. What a good way to start the day!

~*~Miss: WHAT did you do to this candy?
i see it is resealed
me: resealed?
i have no idea what you're talking about
~*~Miss: i dont believe you
Sent at 7:53 AM on Wednesday
me: hehe...brb..have to take mom to work
~*~Miss: HEY answer my ???!!!!
me: just open it...i didn't do anything
brb
Sent at 7:57 AM on Wednesday
me: here i am
Sent at 8:05 AM on Wednesday
~*~Miss: so what did you do to the candtY??
me: um, nothing....don't you see it inside the bag, and it's sealed
Sent at 8:19 AM on Wednesday
~*~Miss: you stuck em to the board?
me: what what what?
hahaha
~*~Miss: u did?
me: whatever do you mean?
~*~Miss: what did you use on em??
me: did you open it?
~*~Miss: yah
me: hehe
i used some type of glue
~*~Miss: what type of glue?
LOL
i ate one
me: i don't remember...just don't eat the candy
haha
ummm
hmmm
the loose ones might be ok to eat
~*~Miss: i ate 1 tho!
me: haha
well, don't get sick
Sent at 8:26 AM on Wednesday
~*~Miss: ??
LOL
me: be sure to hang the masterpiece up for all to see
hehe
~*~Miss: am i missin somethin
I SAID I ATE ONE OFF THE BOARD!!!
me: hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
why did you do that? i don't think you should eat anymore
i don't think that glue is good to eat
hehe
~*~Miss: i thot thats how it came until marcus said pull it out... he may have spelled somethn
me: hahaha...so you thought they came on the board? and i didn't do anything to it?
Sent at 8:30 AM on Wednesday
~*~Miss: well i know it was resealed so it thot maybe you dipped em in alcohol or somethin
so i tried one to see LOL
me: hahahahahaha....awesome
Sent at 8:37 AM on Wednesday
me: haha...wow... nope, no alcohol....just glue
to make a nice piece of art
haha
Sent at 8:39 AM on Wednesday
~*~Miss: haha
Sent at 8:58 AM on Wednesday
me: so, happy valentine's day
haha
i didn't do anything to the marshmallows though
Sent at 9:01 AM on Wednesday
~*~Miss: :)
Sent at 9:02 AM on Wednesday

Sometimes what you need to lift you up is a reaction part 2

Sun, 21 Jan 2007 03:29:34 GMT

We send my sister a lot of stuff. Whatever clothes she needs, cards, icey pops, and cookies. Mom baked another 27 dozen cookies or so. I decided to make a special package for my sister, from her loving brother. I packed them nice, and wrote on the bag "Special for Stacey".

She got the package full of cookies and her and her friends ate them all. I totally forgot about my special package until my mom asked about it. My sister told her, and later told me, that her friend, saw the bag and took it. He told her what it said, and told her "that must mean they are better". He ate them all.

Well, when my sister told my mom this, my mom felt she needed to tell her something. While I was packing that special bag for my sister, I licked each and every cookie I was putting in there. A special love to share with her. Mom told me that Stacey started to laugh, and laugh a lot. To the point where she started crying. She thought it was amazing, and totally has to tell her friend because it's really funny.

I could not imagine a better reaction. Amazing.

True Texas pride in Mississippi

Fri, 19 Jan 2007 23:59:09 GMT

Caren's RV she's is living in during the time she'll be in Mississippi. What a great site to see.

Look at that smile.