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| Saturday, July 15th, 2006 | | 10:10 am |
Twice!
Two posts in the same month. Woo! I may actually pass out from shock. (Faint sounds too prissy.) If I do pass out, hopefully I will land in front of the fan. Still no air conditioning and it is going to hit 90 today, 92 tomorrow, 94 monday and tuesday. Blah. My cats seem to be coping and they are wearing fur coats, so I guess I can deal. It's great for the diet. Way too hot to fucking cook, let alone eat. Massage and Yoga are very slow right now. It usualy is during the heart of summer. It's too hot (for a massage), too nice (walking outside instead of yoga) or family vacation time. The last couple years I have always gotten depressed. Hey, money doesn't come in to pay the bills, it's a typical reaction. lol This summer I am just taking it in stride. The down time has let me recover a bit and slow down. Perfect opportunity to get stuff done around the house, but we circle back around to it being too fricking hot. Thank goodness for the big ass maple tree in the back yard. I am going to take a moment to comment on menopause. I have no idea how to hide my posts, so if you don't want to read, skip. :) Anyone else going through it? Other than the obvious stuff like soy for hot flashes, lavender to help you sleep, does anyone have any thoughts or ideas on how to help the bitchiness? I am using Ylang Ylang oil and drinking Kava tea, but damn, it's getting old. I have been going through this for threeyears now. Actually had my first and only hot flash in the Albany airport when I flew out to Moonlight Rising con. I guess it could have just been a warning not to go to the hotel. :::snickers::: I am now at the stage where my period lasts about three weeks, but then I don't have one for three months. Seems like a good deal until you have to deal with the three weeks. lol Add on extreme bitchiness to my otherwise cheerfulness, snorts and I can get kinda mean. Anyway, any suggestions would be appreciated. I am actually doing well for the moment. My family thought I was nuts to drag the computer, desk, printer, etc out to my living room, insead of leaving it all in the third bedroom. I am now looking up between paragraphs, looking out my window and I can see the tops of my purple coneflowers, a bird snacking on the seeds of said plant and my Buddha statue. It's ten in the morning, so a decent breeze at this point. Pretty calming actually. :) Hope everyone has an awesome weekend! Ally | | Tuesday, July 4th, 2006 | | 12:01 pm |
Personal Freedom
Okay, I had a bit of a nudge to post. {{you last updated your journal on LiveJournal 79 weeks ago!}} Seems like 79 years. It's funny that I get this email after I just went through everyone's most recent posts about a week ago to check in to see how everyone is doing. Way too much has happened for me to keep in touch the way I would like, but I really miss you guys! This may be therapeutic for me, so I am just gonna get it all out. Last December, dad's health, which wasn't great, really started getting worse. We had two hospital visits in one month. It was just me to care for him, since my family, (cousins) are assholes. Last January I started preparing the paperwork to file bankruptcy. Years of caring for my parents, (they didn't have insurance for meds)and starting up my own Massage business(I was an idiot and put expenses on personal credit cards) pretty much had me in considerable debt. Also in January, dad went back into the hospital and was then transferred to the heart hospital. This was a 60 miles round trip drive for me. They put in a defibrillator so that they could actually shock his heart back into a normal beat. We never got to this point, because his kidneys, which were really bad to start with, pretty much failed. His body built up with toxins and he had a lot of very interesting conversations with people who were not in the room. Um, at least physically. The conversations were pretty facinating, but I never could figure out who he was having them with. The docs then put him on dialysis and the toxins were filtered out, so his mental clarity came back. He chose not to be hooked up to dialysis. It would mean a nursing home, poor quality of life, etc. so I was really proud of him for making this choice. In my opinion, this is no way to live. We transferred dad to hospice, also a 60 miles round trip and had a very peaceful four days before he passed away. Dad had a friend/companion that helped me :::keep watch::: with dad, so he wouldn't be alone. I was with him when he passed and he very comfortable thanks to the drugs, but I pretty much listen to him breathing over a massive fluid build up in his lungs for that last 24 hours. Not pleasant. Mom passed away with emphysema, so I gotta think drowning is not the way to go. Anyway, it was dad's choice and peaceful for him. This all took about four weeks (yes, four weeks of driving 60 miles round trip eveyday, working Starbucks and as many massages as I could, gah!) and the bankruptcy obviously got put on hold. The insurance money I received from dad didn't begin to cover the debt,but there was about $15,000 left after his funeral expenses. I put as much as I could in a 401k, but the government will end up taking the last $5,000. I am still hoping that they don't take the 401k money. I have had my creditors hearing, none showed, but the trustee (in charge of hearing) didn't close it out and make it official while I was there. So here I still sit waiting. I will loose my house, which hurts, but not as much as watching the maintenance go down, because I don't have the time or money for the upkeep. Up until last month, I was working seven days a week, between Starbucks, massage therapy and teaching yoga classes. I am down to six days a week and less yoga classes for the summer. It's a much needed break. Fortunately forclosures take forever, so I will stay in the house until November. Did I mention the heat and air conditioning don't work? Yea, that whole cost of maintenance. Heh. This is the first time in fifteen years my life has been for me to worry and take care of just me. The freedom is awesome, yet definately comes at a price. It wouldn't mean so much if it didn't I suppose. Well, that is the last seven months in a nutshell. I will check in more often, 'cause I really do miss everyone and hope you are all well. (Alley, gah, sorry about the arm) I will probably check in with everyone more that I will post, but we'll see. This is a new beginning for me and new beginnings are good. :) {{{{{{everyone, you know who you are}}}} Ally | | Sunday, December 26th, 2004 | | 4:31 pm |
Number 49, Baby!
Ties old record. Sets new record. Wins game. Manning... Priceless. Current Mood:  ecstatic | | Tuesday, November 2nd, 2004 | | 2:36 pm |
Check
Voted. Check. Wait. Gah. | | Wednesday, September 1st, 2004 | | 6:50 pm |
V-Day
Yesterday was kind of an important day for me. You see, I put this envelope in the mail that is by now at the county clerks office. By now, I should be officially registered to vote. Feelings are running both ways on this, so let me backtrack and explain. MY first three elections, we won't go into how far back that is, were very inspiring. As an 18 year old, I was ready for my first election. By the time I reached my third election, I was severely doubting the political system. I just happened to be going through my own growing pains of 'finding myself' at this time. I couldn't handle both. I stopped voting. I am not a political person and never have been. When I did vote, it wasn't for the party, it was for the person and what they believed they could achieve. This is just my way and it works for me. I have never had a "cause" to inspire me either. I think this played a big part in finding out about myself. "Why was I here, if there was nothing I believed in standing up for?" Well, I did find what I needed to about myself. It didn't take finding the right cause though. Now, I have found one I firmly believe in. I would have stood for this even before I met all the wonderful people, in real life and on the internet that have blessed my life over the last five years or so. I do believe that every individual should have equality. Our constitution has stated this for a very long time. As we all know, we have been lacking in this area ever since. I will do whatever I can to make our country a place that bi's, gay's and lesbian's have the same rights that I have. I will do whatever I can to see that the current president is sent back to the south, not that I have anything against the south or chritianity, and the christian church he came from. This is where he and his opinions, which he has every right too, belong. They do not belong in our government. If Kerry wins this election, will things get better? Who knows. They won't get any better if if he loses, this I do know. After this election, I may slide back into oblivion. I don't really know. Am I a bad person for not taking advantage of voting, when there are countries struggling for this very freedom? Probably, but I can deal with the guilt that I occasionally feel. Dealing with politics in this lifetime, isn't for me. Maybe I will come back in my next life as a politician as my karma payback. Heh. For now, I am happy with my desicion. I will vote in this election for Kerry and hope for the best. I will continue to support the rights of bi's, gay's and lesbian's. I will continue with my own personal beliefs and hope that everyone else can do the same. | | Monday, August 2nd, 2004 | | 8:20 pm |
American Idol in Indy
I think I'll start with the negative, since there wasn't too much to complain about. First, I have never been to a concert where there wasn't a video camera flashing the star up on a big screen. Yep, didn't happen here. Once you get 30 rows back from the stage, you can't really see their faces. We had decent seats and didn't get to see much. Also, the music was too loud or the audio for the mics was too low. Either way, the kids had to scream out their songs just to be heard above the music. Let me just say, there is something to being able to sit back on your couch with a beer and get close-ups of your favorites. Heh. On to the good stuff. :) Everyone was there except for Matt. Diana had taken a tumble down the stairs a few concerts back, so her performances were limited. Everyone else did an awesome job. I really enjoyed seeing them all in person. They were able to cut loose and these were the best performances I've seen from any of them. Alley, JPL was absolutely adorable. ;) He kept running all over the stage, jumping up the stairs etc. Hee! George's smile blew me away and I couldn't even see it that well. lol I still want to marry that sweet thing. :) Once they all sang a solo, there was a 20 minute intermission and then they did another hour of group stuff. George and Jennifer did a duet as did John (Stevens) and Fantasia. John and Fantasia were awesome together! Who'da thunk? lol John had two solos and he was dressed in his 'rat pack' era clothes and he looked and sang fabulous. I can't remember the first song, but the second was Valentine. He has improved quite a bit, even in the choreography. Fantasia did her American Idol song at the end, then they all did one more group song. All in all, I enjoyed it. What surprised me was the number of adults in the audience, WITHOUT kids. lol JPL and Fantasia seemed to be the favorites. Jasmine's dad and John's mother sat in the audio control section which was right across from us. It was fun seeing them react when people asked for pictures with them. :) I know there was more, but I am blanking at the moment. | | Sunday, August 1st, 2004 | | 9:33 am |
Sand between my toes....
Other than sand between my toes and other areas I didn't want it, I had an awesome vacation. <.G.> I've never taken more than a week at a time and I've gotta say, a week and a half is pure indulgence. I went down to Panama City Beach for a couple days to visit relatives, then on over to Seagrove Florida. I met a friend and her family, another family and a friend of ours from Taiwan. We had six adults and five kids. I thought we had the kids outnumbered, but what do I know. Heh. Hsiu-mei got stung by a jelly fish the first day, so the kids didn't spend a lot of time at the beach. What a waste. I sat down there for hours at a time just reading, dozing and people watching. Did you know that families actually pack everything, although I never saw a kitchen sink, just to spend a day at the beach? Hee! It was so fun watching them all troop down with these carts full of shit! lol Mom's are busy rubbing sun lotion all over the wiggling kids, while dad sets up the beach chairs, beach umbrella and makes sure the cooler is in the shade under the umbrella. It was so soothing just to watch people do their thing. :) I can't seem to get excited about being back yet, even though business is really good. I am going to get busy with the advertising now, so hopefully it will really pick up once the kids are back in school. I have laundry to do, the grass to mow and a house to clean all before my 11 year old cousin and her mom drag me off to the American Idol concert tonight. :::sigh::: I think it will be cool to see these kids in person, but thousands of screaming 11/12 year olds is not my idea of how to unwind from a vacation. lol Anyway, I'll let ya all know how it went. :) I hope everyone is doing fine and I am gonna try and catch up as I do a bit of laundry today. :) | | Sunday, July 4th, 2004 | | 8:35 pm |
Balanced
Hi everyone! I feel so bad for not checking in more often, but life has been crazy. I hope everyone is doing well and you all have a Happy 4th! Here's a quick update on my life on Earth. Heh. I feel completely grounded and balanced for a change. It may not last long, nothing much stays the same as we all know. However, I am enjoying it while I have it. :) My massage room is finished. It is beautiful. I opened up last week for appointments and have had a lot of inquiries and several bookings. I don't need a wealth of money. (if I ever win the lottery, I am not turning it down though. Heh.) I would like to know that after I pay my bills, That there is always a bit left over. Even if it is $50 bucks. LOL We'll see how things go. :) I traded a massage today for a yoga lesson. I have been doing yoga off and on for about ten years. My favorite instructor is moving to Chicago! Gah! We took today and have next sunday scheduled as well. I am getting a private yoga routine, selected just for me and my lifestyle, massage work etc. Barb is getting massage at a stressful time for her. She is looking forward to the move, but just the process... yea, I am babbling. lol Anyway, I feel awesome. My awareness of my body and movements is amazing. I have lost 15 inches and 22 pounds since the first of the year. I am kicking it back up a notch for the next two weeks. Then vacation! Woo Hoo! I am taking a week and a half and going to Panama City Beach, fl. Then on to Seagrove, Fl. I have never taken a trip this long before. I can hardly wait. So, that is about it. My last month has been painting and working to finish my room and not much else. I have only been getting on the computer a few times a week and I can't begin to tell you all how much I miss you. MY day starts at 4am and by the time I finish with the last massage, I get home around 7pm. I'm in bed by 8pm. LOL Quiet, boring life, but I am happy. I hope everyone has had a good month as well. I promise to try and catch up real soon. :) OH! BTW, the birthday cake ice cream Meltha talked about a while back? Oh. My Cod. I had birthday cake ice cream, a real brownie squished into it, rainbow sprinkles and chocolate. It's all mixed together on a cold marble slab here too. I found heaven. No wonder Buffy didn't want to come back. ;) | | Wednesday, May 26th, 2004 | | 6:56 pm |
Day to Day
Just wanted to check in and say hi. I've hit most everyone's journals before the holiday weekend. I'm heading out of town from saturday till monday. Living in Indianapolis during the Indy 500 weekend is only fun if you live for the track. Heh. When I worked at Fedex, we used to let all the rich movie stars who fly in for the race, park their planes on the Fedex ramp. You can't get in them of course, but looking out at all the rich, fancy planes was always kinda cool. :) I'm still planning on moving into Curves the end of June. My insurance company has a cool new feature on their website. I can actually print out a newsletter, with all the articles pre-written. I just add my personalized section and woo! Of course, printing it to look professional is gonna cost a bit, but you have to put out some money to make money. lol My yard keeps looking at me like I'm a differnet person. I used to be out in it constantly, even when I didn't want to be. I figured it just had to get done or the world was gonna end. Looking out the window, I see a pretty cool looking yard, with perenial gardens, a small pond with a bench and pretty flowers and some very long ass grass! lol I really need to mow, but now I can look outside and realize that not much will change if I put it off till tomorrow. Of course, we are getting the same rain pattern as Meltha. At 11am today it stormed and poured for 30 minutes. The rest of the day was sunny. So it goes everyday. So it has been for the last two weeks. Ugh. That's about it. I hope everyone has a lovely holiday weekend. My major plans include sleeping, drinking wine, eating chocolate and forgetting most every responsibilty that I can get away with for three days. :) Be safe and have fun! | | Tuesday, May 11th, 2004 | | 10:19 am |
I'M MELTING! GAH! and... BIG WOO HOO!
Have I mentioned yet how badly I hate Indiana? One night you are sitting at a baseball game freezing your ass off, 'cause it's 38 friggin' degrees out. Four days later it is in the mid to high eighties! I was out mowing grass at 9am today. I am drenched! I have cleaned up, toweled off and yet I sit here typing with sweat still trickling down my back. Ugh! Yes, I broke down and turned the air on. :::shakes head::: Usually when we get two weeks of eighty degree weather this early, it breaks. It goes back down to a lovely 75 degrees for awhile. Not happening yet. Heh. On to better news! I HAVE A PLACE TO RUN MY OWN BUSINESS THAT IS NOT MY HOME! Woo! I cannot begin to tell you how happy I am. I hated working out of my home, but I hated working for someone even more. LOL We have these weight loss places for women, Curves, popping up all over here. I joined a month ago and last week finally met the owner. She said she had been hoping to meet me ever since she saw my profession on the application. She was curious if I was interested in setting up my business in with hers! I don't think my jaw hit the ground, but it wanted too. I have been looking, seriously looking for a spot now for just a couple weeks. I am so relieved. I can keep my own business name, because she can't officially have a massage therapist under her Curves contract. She will be renting me a room, which she is gonna build!, so that she can be all legal. I am so pumped. The she, I guess I should stop calling her she. LOL Terri said she wasn't interested in making money off this. I think my jaw did hit the floor at this point. She just wants this for her clients, because they have been asking. :::THUD::: It is so hard to build a clientel when you go into a new place. The first three months rent can kill ya. I don't have to worry with that. :::THUD::: I think I am giddy. I had to share with you guys. <.G.> | | Monday, May 10th, 2004 | | 2:02 pm |
VOTE RUPERT!
Hee! We finally get a vote on survivor! Woo! I'm rallying everyone behind my hometown boy, Rupert, from Indianapolis, IN. Help him out and go to cbs.com and vote for him. <.G.> So? What did y'all think about the marraige proposal? I really didn't see that one coming. I figured they would have broken up by now. lol | | Sunday, May 9th, 2004 | | 7:21 am |
HAPPY MOM DAY!
Happy Mother's Day to all you moms out there! :) Relax, take a nap, and make your family take you out to dinner. ;) | | Saturday, May 1st, 2004 | | 3:11 pm |
For (most) All Ailments!
I wanted to make this a separate post. For all you who have aches, pains, headaches, migraines, etc. I was reading everyone's journals and I think at least three of you mentioned headaches/migraines. Also, a lot of folks are running on empty. Here is my miracle cure. :) Actually, I am serious about this. Some of you may have heard about it already. It is concentrated cherry juice. I found out about it thru a client. Her friend is a surgical nurse with arthritis. Arthritis that keeps her on vicatin. The surgeon she works for asked her if she was ready for her next refill and she said she didn't need the vicatin anymore. The concentrated cherry juice had relieved her pain that much. I've now found a few others that take it for the arthritis as well. I have tried it for about a week and a half now. I don't have arthritis problems, but I tend to get a headache every day. Occasionally, it is a full blown migraine. I noticed that after about four days, I have not had a headache since. I am hooked. Basically, it can't hurt ya, so you are only out the money if it doesn't help. It is the equivalent of eating 60 bing cherries. This is a hell of a lot of antioxidents. My only reccomendation is not to follow the dosage on the bottle. It is too much too stomach for me. This is really potent stuff. I put 1 1/2 to 2 tablespoons into a twelve ounce can of soda. I like the fizzy effect. :) I found it at Meijers (walmart equivalent) in the produce section. I hope it helps! :) | | 2:59 pm |
I seem to have made it.
Well, I guess I made it through the big 40 birthday without falling completely apart. Thanks to all the welcome folks for the birthday wishes! <.G.> I also got a goodie box from Alley. I am munching on cookies as I type. ;) {{{{Alley}}}} A couple of friends and I went to a little 'crafty/artsy' town for a couple of days. MY one friend's birthday is the day after mine, so we celebrate together. We shopped, ate till we stuffed ourselves, then ate some more. We each ended up eating a half pound of fudge over two days. :::shakes head::: Mine was Mocha Hazelnut coffee flavor. God it was so good. lol Oh. Yea. We killed a couple bottles of wine on my birthday. Hee ! It was a much needed good time. It was back to reality today though. I had to be at Starbucks at 5am. It was SOOOO very busy. The line inside was almost out the door. The drive-thru line was wrapped around the building. No potty breaks, no ten minute coffee breaks, no lunch breaks... just six straight hours of non-stop drink making. It was so good to get home. Heh. I need to start printing out my resumes, but I am too tired now. I am flower shopping with my friend tomorrow. (We each got $50 bucks for our birthdays) :) Then a birthday dinner with family. Then I get to forget about it for another year. lol | | Wednesday, April 28th, 2004 | | 3:03 pm |
Coney Is. Cotton Candy
I decided to take bunny's great advice and go with random titles. I slurged on myself today and got a manicure and pedicure. Coney Is. Cotton Candy is the name of my new nail polish. :) I think I have caught up on most lj. I am so friggin' bad at this. I love you guys to death, but the minute things start to go wrong with life in general, I just clam up. I've replied to a couple post, but I am going to try and get here more often. I feel bad replying to someone who's had a bad day and my post reaches them a week later. Heh. Yea, that's gonna help. Anyway, life sucks right now. No business at all except a few regulars. I am going to have to hit the pavement and look for a job at a day spa I guess. I really need to get out of my home anyway. My dad is driving me nuts. {Bunny, you have a free vacation spot here in Indiana anytime, just remember, my dad is a pain. I know how you feel at times} :) We refinanced the house yesterday to get out of debt and put a little in the bank. I hope I can get out of the damn rat race and not put shit right back on the credit cards. :::sigh::: Anyway, I am heading out of town for a couple days. Hopefully, I will be in a better frame of mind and I will start being a better friend to y'all. <.G.> Enjoy Angel! | | Sunday, April 4th, 2004 | | 9:51 pm |
| | Wednesday, March 24th, 2004 | | 6:35 pm |
American Idol
Let me just get this out in the open. I want to marry George Huff! Hee! My, how I love George. He is just the sweetest, cutest person and really has an awesome voice. This being said, I still think Diana or Latoya will win it. You never know though. It will be tough to choose from about four, imo. Amy found her thing! Woo! I hope she is smart and sticks to country. Her performance last night was awesome. :) | | Saturday, March 13th, 2004 | | 6:25 pm |
Mmmmmm
I just did hamburgers out on the grill. Nothing like a perfect burger when it's only about 38 degrees out. Heh. I'm slightly buzzed on half a bottle of reisling, soon to be a full bottle. :) I had a wonderful nap this afternoon and hopefully tomorrow will be sunny and about 50 degrees. Time for gardening. The smell of freshly turned soil. The joys of counting ten garbage bags full of debris that cluttered your gardens over the winter. The joy of calluses, not good for a massage therapist, from working compost into the soil. The joy of dirt under your nails, again, not great for a massage therapist. Heh. I am so very ready for spring. It looks like my fishies survived the winter. Woo! :) I must have scooped a shitload of leaves out of my pond. I still have about two more shitloads to scoop, too. lol Anyone else ready for spring? :::sips more wine::: :::off to snuggle under the covers for an eveing of reading::: Sometimes, life is just too good to be true. :) | | Thursday, March 11th, 2004 | | 4:36 pm |
A Bit Morbid
I'm feeling a bit morbid today, so if you don't want to go there, click off now. lol Anyway, my uncle, non blood relative, passed away on monday. My dad and I went to the funeral today. It was pretty traditional. The showing was the night before and then the services today. The minister spoke for about a half hour at the funeral home and then we all went to the cemetary and the service was finished there. I remember the 'we are here to celebrate his life' was mentioned a couple times. To me, it was all very formal, although I realized some can be much more, and I felt like the service was supposed to make us all sad. When my mom passed away in 1999, she wanted to be cremated. We had a small memorial at a funeral home and a minister spoke. However, he spoke about her life and how she touched us. We were all laughing and nodding our heads the entire time. My cousin made a huge board with pictures spanning her life. It was awesome. People stood there for a long time chatting and telling stories that went with each picture. We invited everyone, about 200 people, back to our ranch home. Heh. It was packed. People ate and told more stories. I don't know how to say this without y'all looking at me strange, but it was one of the best days I've ever had. I just felt so warm, happy and loved with all these people talking about my mom. So, now I'm curious. If you feel like it, I was wondering what everyone felt. You know, how would you plan your service if you could. I want to be cremated and have just a couple good friends spread my ashes over the ocean. They can use the insurance money to make the trip with. I feel like I am being a bit selfish, because this isn't really fair to my family and friends, but it is what I want. What about eveyone else? Oh. Give my dad a wave if ya want. Poor guy turned 77 today and had to go to a funeral. Heh. We are going to my cousind tonight, who shares his birthday, and celebrate. <.G.> | | Sunday, February 22nd, 2004 | | 1:56 pm |
thanks to meltha
I was trying to get caught up on everyones journals today. Meltha's entry where she pampered herself, (btw, those idiots at the mall are not worth a second thought. :::hugs meltha::: ) perked me up. Feeling a bit down and not wanting to do much. (boy, do i have a lot to do) Anyway, I gave myself a facial and then applied a fake tan. Anyone heard of the product, Fake Bake? It is becoming popular here, so I'm sure the east and west coast have been using it for a bit. So, this mini pampering seemed to work! Ha! I have Meltha to thank for clean sheets on our beds, outside xmas decorations taken down, boxed and stored up on the shelves in the garage. The garage cleaned and trash taken out to the curb, laundry is about halfway done and i just finished a bowl of sugar-free chocolate ice cream. I recommend breyers. No funny after taste. I would not have felt this good without the pampering treatment, so THANKS MELTHA! Hee! I am heading to St. Louis on thursday for a long weekend. My friends husband is in Korea for six weeks and she has been a single parent now for three. Heh. I'm sure she is ready for a break. Besides, the kids are my godchildren. I get to spoil them for four days and then go back home. Heh. :) Okay, thats about it. I haven't been able to do the once a week thing, but still, not too bad. lol Hope everyone has a great week! :) |
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