Thursday, November 29, 2012

Thankful Thursday 11.29.12


ART FROM: Mrs. Rachel

Isn't he just flipping ADORABLE?!?!?!?!?!

I am thankful......
  1. my photo-Crhistmas cards arrived today and they turned out GREAT!  Now I just need to get to addressing them and pick up some Christmas stamps and I can mail those out soon.
  2. great friends all over the world.  God bless the internet!  *grins*
  3. that awesome decorating David did for Christmas.  Our mantel area looks kick ass!
  4. almost done with the Art Every Day Challenge.  I'm still working to get caught up, but I've got all but two (including tomorrow's) Mandalas drawn up, so all that's really left is coloring.
  5. music.  I'm really enjoying (ok..border-line obsessed is a better description) P!nk's new song "Try".
  6. able to be goofy as hell with my students.
  7. art journaling....always fun.
  8. Pinterest.  It certainly gets my creative juices flowing.
  9. payday is fast approaching!
  10. got my poinsettias today and they look GREAT!

Sunday, November 25, 2012

Into the Light


Photo from: Fashion Blog

 
She gives a quick and easy tutorial on how to dye your hair lavender without having to go to the hairdresser for it.  I'd just have to have a profession hairdresser bleach my hair to ensure I don't go ORANGE.  And the lavender is a semi-permanent color.  I wonder how long that lasts exactly.  I'd be tempted to do it over winter break....or maybe the summer.  We'll have to see.

I worked out today.  Did some time on the elliptical and then tossed in lunges and leg lifts and weights too.  And a few yoga positions to help stretch.  And some of my exercises from my knee physical therapy.  I know I'm going to be feeling it tomorrow.  Especially since I'll be playing soccer with the kids again.  *chuckles*  It's time for me to get up off my ass and do something about my weight.

It's depressing, how fat I've gotten.  And add on top of that, that the Gap is discontinuing the Long & Lean jeans that I wear.  *sighs*  I tried on other jeans, but they just remind me of why I hate women's jeans.  Does everything for the female body have to be skin tight?  And those jeans make it look like I have NO ass what-so-ever.  That was a shocker.  I used to get all sorts of compliments on my ass (second only to my boobs).  And in those jeans you'd think I had a grandpa ass.  You know, those butts that look like they cave inwards instead of curving outwards.  *shakes her head*

I just keep telling myself that loosing the weight and getting toned up does not necessarily mean I'll be a victim again.  I'm not doing all of these just so I can be sexy (it's a nice by-product though).  I'm doing this so I can be healthy enough and strong enough to start taking the various MMA (mixed martial arts) classes I want to take.  I'm doing this so I can learn how to properly defend myself AND have the ability to do so, should the occasion ever call for it.  I need to make a visualization board to remind me of this.  To keep me motivated. 

I'm taking small steps, so I don't burn myself out or scare myself off.  Baby steps....but daily steps.  That's the key right now.

I'm tired of hiding.  Time to step out into the light.....

Friday, November 23, 2012

Touching Base


Yes, yes, another antlered woman.  *smiles*  Perhaps Deer is the totem for the upcoming year?  Lion/Lioness is the totem for this year.

We opted to stay here for Thanksgiving.  We didn't relish the thought of being out on the road with the craziness and instead curled up at home and enjoyed the day as we would any other day that we had free from any outside obligations.  And it was truly lovely.

Tomorrow we are doing lunch with my Coven.  It will be good to see them again.  Though I do find myself wavering again on my involvement with the Coven.  Should I stay or should I go?  *shrugs*  I have yet to hear anything from Amber on my request for 1st Degree Initiation, and I sent that email shortly after Mabon back in September.  Even if she simply said she didn't feel I was ready for initiation, I could accept that.  It's this whole no response thing that has me a bit put out.  *shrugs*

My journal is back from the most recent swap I hosted.  I'm quite displeased with Patty's contribution....she had it for three bloody weeks and managed ONE handwritten page.  That's it.  And then she mailed it to me instead of mailing it to Annette like she was supposed to.  So I had to mail TWO journals....and money isn't exactly plentiful here.  *sighs*  Yeah, she won't be joining in on any other swaps.  I mean, if she wasn't going to put forth any effort, why did she want to join the swap?  *shakes her head*

We watched UFC 154 at Lisa's house back on the 17th.  Great times.  It was good to watch the UFC with people who like it and know the fighters.  Georges St. Pierre was back and in fine form.  Great fight.

Babysat Monday and Tuesday.  Monday we hit the Fort Worth Zoo.  I got some great photos and a number of small feathers from the Harpy Eagles and the Stellar Sea Eagle too.  Very cool.  :)  Overall, the girls were great and it was a super easy gig.  And it's nice to get paid for two days of work when I wouldn't be getting any money in the first place. 

Though, I have a question about my pay.  During the summer, I was getting paid $70 a day to watch the girls, so by the standard, I should have been paid $140 for the two days.  Instead, the dad (who never handled that before) only paid me $100.  So I've text the mom inquiring about that.  We'll see how that all pans out.  Note to self: Be sure to discuss and agree on pay PRIOR to accepting the job, even if you've done that job before.

Hmmm, what else, what else?

Been working in my various journals once more.  I ordered a whole slew of photos, thanks to Shutterfly's generous offer of 101 FREE prints.  That was awesome of them.

I've been working on my Art Every Day Challenge too.  A Mandala a day, based off of animal patterns.  I need to photograph/scan those and upload them soon.  I'm behind (as usual), but am really enjoying the challenge.

Still trying to figure out the best way to get my lavender hair and still keep my job.  I had found a lady in the area that does hair extensions...but she wanted to charge me $125 to do it.  Seriously, my jaw hit the ground when she quoted that price to me.  Um no.  I just wanted 2 streaks in my hair about an inch wide.  And shit, if I had that kind of money to blow, I would have bought Georges St Pierre's walk-out shirt (but seriously, I couldn't justify spending $55 on a damn t-shirt, even if it IS Georges!).

Heck, I'm even thinking of just having a hairdresser bleach part of my hair and then dye it lavender.  *chuckles*  One way or another, I'm getting that lavender hair.  I've become almost obsessed with it.  I just need to find a hairdresser that has lavender hair dye.  The hairdresser I usually go to is much older, and I fear my request for such an unusual hair color would shock her.  And I make it a point NOT to shock those who wield scissors near my head.  *chuckles*

*wanders off*

Thursday, November 15, 2012

Thankful Thursday 11.15.12



ART: African Lion 107
ARTIST: catman-suha


 
I am thankful.......
  1. my lil bro got engaged last week!  And I was the second person he called to announce it to.  *smiles*
  2. that I'll be babysitting two days next week, so I will be making SOME money (I have the entire week off of work for the Thanksgiving holiday -- NO paid holidays, so that means NO money).
  3. today is payday and it's a NICE paycheck!
  4. good friends.  I need to make it more of a point to socialize with my good friends.
  5. playing soccer with my students.
  6. my Mom made Angel Food Cake for me for my birthday!  Delicious.
  7. finding some photography tutorials online that look promising.  I certainly want to step up my photography game.
  8. quiet mornings.
  9. finally getting to see the movie the Hunger Games and, other than a few places it deviated from the book, it was pretty good. 
  10. and now I'm done with my thankful list.  Woohoo!  Off to play on Pintrest until it's time to go to my staff meeting and then to work.

Saturday, November 10, 2012

31 Goals for my 31st Year


ART: Line
ARTIST: annelysa


 
  1. weigh 175 lbs or less
  2. make a career decision and go for it
  3. Photo Safari at Fossil Rim for my 7th year SI free
  4. take a sketching/drawing/paint class
  5. do well in the Coursera classes I've enrolled in
  6. get a tattoo
  7. return visit to Wolf Park
  8. return visit to the Houston Zoo
  9. Project Life for 2013
  10. make a wish at 12:12 on December 12th, 2012
  11. photos in the bluebonnets
  12. 12 new recipes
  13. make the beaded wrap/case for my athame
  14. send in a secret to Post Secret
  15. go to 3 DFW Herpetological Society meetings
  16. go to the big reptile expo in February
  17. take a photography class/course
  18. make 6 of the crafts I've found on Pintrest
  19. deep clean my art territory
  20. get nice photos done of David and I
  21. do something nice for David's birthday
  22. 365 Photo Challenge
  23. good photos of Leviathan every month
  24. enter 3 photography contests
  25. find my Sir Bob the Chicken Knight Story and work on getting it published
  26. have my fortune read
  27. visit the Japanese Botanical Gardens in the Spring and Fall
  28. pay down the Firestone credit card to zero by my 32nd birthday
  29. start a savings account
  30. treat myself to the Zoo, lilies, and a nice dinner for my 32nd birthday
  31. visit the Ultimate Reptile Shop in Hockley and feed their Gaboon Viper.

Friday, November 9, 2012

Thankful Friday 11.09.12


Seriously, if my job would allow it, I would totally dye my hair this color.
Hell, I'd even learn how to do the fish bone braiding and do my hair this way every day, if I could just have this color!  *smiles*

I am thankful.......
  1. the Dallas Zoo has a Herpetology volunteer position and I've emailed them about it.  Now it's just a waiting game to see what it entails.
  2. that Obama won the election.  I'm not going to lie.  I'm sure the Republican's have a better fiscal plan for the country, but I just couldn't look past their backwards stance on social issues. 
  3. spiritual re-awakening.
  4. my lil brother is engaged!
  5. birthday money.  I wanted to blow it, but I was smart and put it down on bills.  Now, I will be picking myself up some lilies and renewing my subscription to SageWoman for "fun".  I can't be a total grown-up on my birthday!  *laughs*
  6. David's offered to pay for my tattoo up to $250 if I get toned up (because it doesn't hurt as bad).  Now I just have to get my butt in gear and get toned so I can get my serpent tat.  Though, I am thinking of holding off until after Logan's wedding out of respect for my brother and that he probably doesn't want me sporting a snake tattoo in his wedding photos!  *laughs*
  7. finding music that lifts me up -- generally based more on the music than on the lyrics. 
  8. beautiful weather.  Makes walking Holly through the woods so much more enjoyable.
  9. that this weekend should be nice and calm, since next week is going to be insane.  Good, but insane.  *chuckles*
  10. that in all honesty, this past year has been a pretty good one.  And the down parts, the parts that just beat me senseless?  They taught me a lot...about myself and about the world.  Onwards and upwards!

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Circles


Shining C Grulla Horse
Photo:
Cassidy Cobarr

Man, I just want to crawl back into bed and sleep the day away.
It was so hard to get out of bed.  I was snuggled in just perfectly and had NO desire to get out.  *chuckles*
But Holly must be walked. 
My Spirit needs the woods.
And squirrels need to be pestered.  *chuckles* 
Such is the way of life around here.

Obama won the election.  He's staying in office for another 4 years.  I'd be lying if I said I wasn't relieved.  The Republican's stance on social platforms was just too scary for me.  I think they chose to focus too much on things that, honestly, are none of their goddamn business.  They may have a better fiscal plan....but their strong stances on reproductive rights and gay marriage.....I just couldn't look past those. 

Maryland and Maine have passed laws SUPPORTING gay marriage.  Woohoo for them!  I hate to say it, but I know in my heart, it will be a cold day in hell before such a law is passed in Texas.

Birthday is looming on the horizon (Nov 10th, this Saturday).
And I have to say....turning 31 is bothering me a whole lot more than turning 30 did. 
I dunno.  I just expected MORE by this point.
I've got some ideas I'm working on.  I'm probably going to finish up my alternative teaching program and take the plunge into public school teaching.  I can't say I'm 100% thrilled by this, but I am good with working with children.  I'd love to get into the special needs program, or maybe with the at-risk/juvenile children.
It'll give me the money I need to get my butt out of debt and actually be able to take my polar bear trip by the time I turn 40 (FUCK, that's only 9 years away!!!  Now I'm really starting to feel old).

More and more I'm feeling the pull to do another Vision Quest.  It's just that the Medicine Man I did my first Quest with no longer does them.  Maybe he knows another Medicine Person who would take me under their wing.  I dunno.

I just feel like I'm going in circles here.
Ma'at warned me about this when She spoke with me on Mabon.  I need to focus, but I just keep swirling around and around.  *sighs* 

Ok, time to put my big girl panties on.

The Plan:
- finish up my 31 Goals for my 31st Year (I don't do New Year's Resolutions)
- Tabula Rasa (clean slate) ritual this week)
- enjoy my birthday WEEK

The Next Step:
- Thanksgiving week, finish up alternative teaching on-line classes
- look into various teaching tests I am interested in taking
- get alternative certification
- begin applying for jobs for the next school year

Overall Plan:
- stop wallowing
- get toned (David's offered to pay for a tattoo up to $250 if I get toned up)
- let my bad ass self SHINE
 

Just Gotta Say

Just wanted to say......



.....I am so glad that shit got shut the fuck down.

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

A New Friend

Meet Hiss, the HUGE opossum.


He's roughly 2 and a half feet long (NOT counting his tail).


Fat and Fluffy as hell.


Look at that friggin' ADORABLE face! 
I've got to get my exotic animal license and wild life rehabber license so I can keep one of these guys.

Random tidbit of info....these shots were taken from my third floor balcony.  Guess my zoom lens is pretty good.  *grins*

Sunday, November 4, 2012

For David's Next Card


I am totally writing this in the next card (Xmas) that I get for David because it is so damn true for us.  :)
But instead of "friends" I'll write husband and wife.  :)

Thursday, November 1, 2012

Thankful Thursday 11.01.12


via Pintrest

I am thankful.....
  1. for this new Spiritual awakening I'm undergoing.  I've been asleep at the wheel for far too long.
  2. great staff and that work has appeared to calm back down. 
  3. David got me a pedometer.  I'm curious to see how many steps I take a day and then set a higher goal.
  4. that even though my life is far from perfect, far from what I want of it, I am here and I am happy.
  5. the voting process was incredibly easy.  Now we just have to wait and see who our leader will be.
  6. having my eyes open about racism, sexism, and just RUDE things other people will spout off without thinking...and that I have the balls to call them on this and point it out.  Until they are aware, they cannot change these thought patterns.
  7. got an offer from Shutterfly on Facebook for 101 FREE prints.  I ordered 76 photos yesterday and it just cost me $4 to ship.  I have until Friday to order the last 25 (if I want to) before the offer expires.  I've gotten a lot of Leviathan's photos as I can't remember the last time I ordered her photos.  Gonna fill up that baby book of hers!
  8. Art Every Day Challenge begins today.  I'm making a Mandala a day based off of animal patterns. 
  9. YouTube allowing me to listen to a variety of songs.
  10. having Netflicks.  David and I are LOVING it!  We don't miss cable one bit.