Stalking Happiness

TT #3 - Thirteen Traits

2008-08-28T11:32:00.004-04:00

So I recently put my ad on a single's site. So far it's been quite disappointing, though to be fair, I've only been on there a few days. I'm impatient like that. ;-)

When I say disappointing, I am referring to the conversations (or lack thereof) for the most part and just the types of responses I receive. One guy has no picture posted but asked for my e-mail to send them to me... then said, "if you like me, you can call me at work". What the Hell - you don't know me and you'd bloody give me your private info? That just screams desperate and mildly psycho to me. Another guy sends his introductory message to me saying, "do u like black guys?????????". Yes, he used that many question marks. I was going to respond and enlighten him to the fact that I see no colors in love or life, but that I did see stupid when people make assumptions (an ASS out of U and Me) about racial issues. I decided to just ignore him and carry on my marry, Mexican way. (*^_^*)

In creating my profile, it brought to light all of the traits I look for in a date/partner/future spouse (and love-slave). It's not that I am Hell-bent on the perfect man, but I've been burned and let down *so* many times that I know precisely what I need in my life. Most guys just don't seem to fit the shoes needing to be filled. Even sadder, my list isn't so far-fetched or unattainable that it is a decathalon just trying to be that *great* man.

Here I'll list 13 traits I seek in a guy (actually most of this carries on over into friendships, too):

1. Honesty - Be it brutal or subtle, I need someone who is honest with me at all times, not when it is convenient or suits them best.
2. Solid, open communication - If we can't talk about our problems, our successes, and so on, then we are simply acquaintances.
3. Sense of humor - Okay, I'm a big goober and a gigglebox. Me and Mr. Serious just won't work, LOL. Tried it before and it made me feel like doing something totally random and off the wall everytime a conversation was so serious... which was ALL the freaking time.
4. Ability to be serious when needed - see the post above. Just because I want someone funny, doesn't mean I should have to tell him when it is time to be serious.
5. Faithfulness - I can't even believe this has to be explained but some folks don't even understand this concept anymore. I believe in 2 people in a loving relationship... not 3 or 4 or whatever tickles your fancy during your "moment".
6. Strength - both physically and emotionally strong. I am extremely strong and independent, moreso because I've had to be. I've never had anyone to help support me in any way, even emotionally. I'm always the pillar, the solid foundation... and because no one is that strong spotter for me, when I fall - I fall hard. I want to know that someone has my back through it all and that if I feel weak or let down, I can be lifted back up and carried if needed.
7. Spiritual - I don't care what religion or belief set he holds, but I do need someone with a spiritual nature to them. Even an atheist/agnostic is alright, so long as they aren't doing it out of spite or constantly angry with religion.
8. Family man - Having two kids, this is a huge must. He has to love children and love them blindly and unconditionally. He has to always keep the family in mind when making decisions or choices. A good family man does whatever it takes to be there for his family.
9. Balanced - This one is a bit more general. I like a man who is balanced, not too dominant and not too submissive; not too funny to where he can't be taken seriously, nor too serious where there is no laughter; responsible, yet can let loose and have fun; and just overall comfortable with who they are and able to balance all of the positives and negatives in their lives.
10. Compassionate - not only towards me and my children, but towards everyone. Someone who isn't afraid to help someone out or rise to the occasion without being asked to assist.
11. Childlike - not childish. To be childlike, you must love unconditionally, easily forgive, be carefree and hopelessly happy, enjoy the little things in life, and get right up after you've falled down... over and over again.
12. Affectionate - I'm very touchy-feely so it is a requirement that I have someone who enjoys the same and reciprocates equally. This also carries over to the children - I worry about people who shy away from physically expressing their love for someone, especially children.
13. Passionate - This applies to all areas of life, not just in the bedroom. *smiles* I need someone who gives it their all, tries their best, and never lets go of their desires.

Do you know this guy? If so, send him my way... you may even get a finder's fee. *winks*

TT # 2 - I Want It and I Want It NOW!!!

2008-08-21T08:12:00.002-04:00

I'm feeling very antsy this morning and thought I'd be rather selfish in this week's Thursday 13. These are somewhat realistic things that I want right now, dang it!

1. For my unemployment appeal to be approved.
2. To be all moved into my new house.
3. To reach that point where I can work at home full-time.
4. To have my next tattoo.
5. I want to be in Michigan right now!
6. I want *her* to be as far away from me now (and always, actually).
7. I want a certain visiting aunt to be gone, vanquished until next time.
8. I want to be in love... madly in love.
9. I want to sleep better and stop needing a nap during the day.
10. I want to be finished with my diet and weight loss.
11. I want my nose pierced again.
12. I want high speed internet and cable at my new home.
13. I want to feel appreciated, at least just for today.

I Want You To Know...

2008-08-20T23:35:00.006-04:00

I want you to know how BEAUTIFUL you are. You have this radiance about you that is irresistable. Your smile can instantly brighten up anyone's mood... and I can only imagine how everyone instantly grins as they see that smile spread across your lips.

I want you to know how INTELLIGENT you are. I sense you already know this, but you need to be reminded of it. I am so proud of you for finishing up school and working towards your goals and dreams.

I want you to know that I admire your OPTIMISM. It's nothing like I've ever experienced before - it almost deserves a new word to describe it. How about TajOptimism? *giggles* You are so goal-driven and successful. Hearing you being so positive is always so inspiring for me. I know that the road will only continue to get easier for you... you will move forward and all of your dreams will come true.

I want you to know how FUNNY you are! I crack up anytime we chat online or talk on the phone. Factor in that sweet little voice of yours and that Southern drawl - it's the perfect combination.

I want you to know how ADORABLE you are. I'm referring to inside and out - you're especially so cute with your little mannerisms! You are so SWEET and KIND - often times moreso than folks may deserve. I can't possibly imagine you not fitting in anywhere - everyone is drawn to you, attracted by your magnetic personality.

Most importantly, I want you to know that you are WONDERFUL as YOU. Please don't ever change - you'd not only do yourself a disservice, but you'd greatly dissapoint those of us who love and appreciate you.

Hispanic Heroes

2008-08-20T02:11:00.004-04:00

I want to take a moment and blog about two of my all-time heroes, who both happen to be Hispanic and dear to me - Cesar Chavez and Jaime Escalante.

Cesar Chavez was a Mexican-American labor-leader and civil rights activist. He and Dolores Huerta created the National Farmworker's Association back in the late 50's/early 60's. Chavez helped lead several strikes for migrant workers in California and eventually into Texas and other areas.

Chavez was a believer of Ghandi's passive resistance measures. He'd often fast for weeks, sometimes months, to help his cause and draw public attention. It worked! Sales would drop of the boycotted produce and completely wipe out profit margins. The "big dogs" were forced to take notice and corrective measures.

Most Hispanics, escpecially us Mexicans, see Chavez as the "Hispanic MLK". He did so much for not only the Hispanic community in general, but for all migrant workers.

My dad and his family were migrant workers. They moved to wherever the crops were and all of the kids, spare my uncle who suffered some minor brain damage, would all work in the fields once old enough. My dad grew up in Texas, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Louisianna, and Michigan - shuffled about anytime they needed to move to pick new crops. This is one of the many reasons he is one of my personal heroes, too... but that's for another post, someday.

My dad also was able to meet Chavez back in the 70's when he attended a UAW convention out in California. He was amazed at how little he was, yet, how his presence completely filled the room! He was an amazing man with a remarkable energy about him.

For more information on Cesar Chavez, click here.

As for Jaime Escalante, he was a math teacher in Los Angeles who brought about massive change and reform in Garfield High School. It was a school where most students cared little to nothing about education - a tough place to be a teacher.

But he found a handful of students wanting to take an algebra class from him and the transformation began. He'd work long hours, raise funds for Advanced Placement testing fees, and often got involved in the students' lives to help them succeed. With each year his class sizes increased, as did the students who passed the Advanced Placement exams.

Several times during his teaching term, he was threatened by school officials, administrators, etc. He rarely sought out permission for fund-raising or changes in the curriculum, knowing his ideas would be shot down due to the lack of concern for the students at Garfield.

There was a movie that came out back in the 80's, based on his story, called Stand and Deliver. This movie is what introduced me to him and made me want to learn more. In 9th grade, I did a report about him and can still remember how proud I was to stand up and teach the class (and teacher) about this wonderful man.

You can read more about Escalante here.

TT #1 - A Thankful Thursday

2008-08-14T09:00:00.002-04:00

One of the things I noticed about my new friends at Plurk.com was TT or Thirsday Thirteen. Each Thursday, several bloggers post a 13 item list of their choice to their blog. It gets rather ineteresting to see what folks choose to post about every week. Here's my first go at it. *smiles*

13 Reasons Why I Am Thankful:

1. I am thankful for my children - I would be nothing without them.
2. I am thankful that I am creative and artistic.
3. I am thankful for my dad and all that he does to help me in life (while teaching me, too).
4. I am thankful that I am provided for - I am rich according to the world's standards.
5. I am thankful for the many friends I have met at Plurk recently - you guys rock.
6. I am thankful that I am fortunate enough to live each day without being in famine, war, destitution, or political upheaval.
7. I am thankful for the many blessings that come my way during the darkest hours.
8. I am thankful that I am strong and resilient.
9. I am thankful that I love who I am and no one will ever bring me down.
10. I am thankful for my intelligence.
11. I am thankful for my abilities, while made humble by my disabilities and downfalls.
12. I am thankful that I can learn from my mistakes and see a lesson being taught during rough times in my life.
13. I am thankful that I am live today.

Because of You...

2008-08-13T23:09:00.004-04:00

You're such an inspiration for the person I will never, ever choose to be.

Because of you, I know I am a better parent. I don't hit my children, much less even lay a finger on them - I never have nor will I ever. I don't call them names or try to belittle them. I've never ignored my children when they cry or are in need of comforting. I've never became angry at them when they were ill or needed medical attention. I've never made ugly remarks about my children's friends - their appearance, their background, their parents, or anything of that sort. I will also never make distasteful and hateful remarks about the people that my children will date someday - I will not call them ugly, dirty-looking, stupid, ghetto, or worse. I will never play favorites with my children or border on neglecting a child while seemingly worshipping the other child.

Because of you, I know I am a better person. I am positive and optimistic, though realistic, and have hopes and dreams. I help others whenever possible without broadcasting it to everyone in search of praise and glory. I always strive to treat everyone equally and without judgement.

Because of you, I know I am a better relative to my family members, outside of my immediate family of me and my children. I will never be cold or unwelcoming to my mentally handicapped uncle simply because he can be annoying at times. I will never turn my back on my brother simply because I don't agree with his actions or decisions he makes in his life. I will never pick and choose which nieces or nephews I will acknowledge come holidays or special times - I will love and honor them equally.

Because of you, I know that I was a better wife (when married) and that I will be a better wife once re-married some day. I would never say nasty things about my spouse's family or friends. I would never order my spouse around or try to control the relationship. I would cherish every moment with my husband, enjoying time spent together, and always be supportive of his decisions. I would never tell him to "shut up" or "go to Hell", or worse. I would "fight fairly" and never pull any low blows in an argument, no matter how heated. I would give and take equally in the relationship and not have the scales tipping too much to either side.

Because of you, you will lose me. I know at some point in my life I will completely rid myself of you. I know that right now is not the time due to my current circumstances, but I also know that I will triumph and fly far above what anyone expects of me, possibly even exceed my own expectations. I know that you will eventually understand and regret the way that you treated me all of these years... yet I know that you would never apologize or admit this to me or anyone, for that matter. I know that I could eventually forgive you someday, but am reminded that forgiving you would never go hand-in-hand with wanting to reconcile with you.

Because of you, I am thankful that I am not you... I am nothing like you.

Tag - I'm It!!!

2008-08-08T02:37:00.002-04:00

So, my dear one over at Mean Girls Need Not Apply tagged me for this meme. Enjoy (*^_^*)

What was I doing 10 years ago?
1 month away from the worst mistake in my life - marrying a complete asshole.

What are five things on my to-do list today?
1. Take the kiddos to school
2. Go down to CSS and raise Hell
3. Go to the new house and start cleaning
4. Go home and do more packing
5. Plurk

Snacks I enjoy:
Cool Ranch Doritos, fresh coconut, tortilla with butter, pickles, sesame sticks, olives, peanuts and rice crackers.

Places I’ve lived:
Michigan, Tennessee & New Mexico.

Things I would do if I were a billionaire:
Pay off all debts. Build my dream home and possibly a couple of vacation homes. Build a dream home for my parents and pay off all of their debts. New vehicles for us all. First investments would be to build apartments. Start several businesses - mostly online biz types. Put up plenty for a rinay day and for kids. Start businesses for kids so that they can earn their own money, too. Donate to multiple charitable foundations.

I am specifically tagging ALL OF YOU! Go on, then!

Whoa, Time Flies!

2008-08-08T02:09:00.002-04:00

I can't believe how long it has been since I last posted. Wait - yes I can. Read my first post on here and you'll see that I *knew* going in that my past track record with blogs has been this way. Oh, by the power of fudge, I want to change!

Great... now I am hungry for fudge.

I've been spending *lots* of time on Plurk lately. I've met some FANTASTIC friends so far and have really enjoyed my time there! Several of them actively blog and I was urged to get mine up and shared with others.

So, here I am. More to come soon... (*^_^*)

Cascarones

2008-03-12T21:15:00.003-04:00

It's almost Easter time & cascarones are on my mind! If you've never had the cascarone experience, man have you missed out!

Cascarones are a Mexican and increasingly popular Southwestern tradition involving hollowed out eggs filled with confetti. (Some of the eggs are filled with flour sometimes, too... read on to find out 'why'). You can decorate the eggs or leave them plain. They are given out in Easter baskets and eventually the cascarone fight breaks out, with the eggs being smashed on heads, backs, and thrown at anyone within range!

Supposedly, when Maxmillian and Carlotta came from France to rule Mexico in the 1860s, Carlotta brought her perfumed talc in the empty egg shells - a custom that was picked up on their Eastern/Asian travels. That's why in some parts of Mexico and the Southwest the cascarones are filled with flour instead of confetti (or in addition to eggs with confetti, too).

Our family tends to put flour in the cascarones instead... it makes for such a funner fight and the look afterwards is priceless! (I'll have to try to dig out some old photos of us with flour in our hair.) I remember one year, my uncle got out the water hose during the cascarone fight. It was interesting, to say the least, trying to get clumps of dough out of our hair, our clothes, and the grass!

Make some cascarones with your family this year. Really, they are lots of fun (confetti and flour) and fun to make. They also look really nice as decorations on a tablescape, in a basket or bowl on a mantle, etc.

A few weeks (some folks start a few months) before Easter, start saving your eggs. Anytime you cook with an egg, instead of cracking it open, poke a small hole in the bottom and let the egg drip out. Wash the shell out thoroughly and let it completely dry.

Once it's time to decorate, you can paint them solid colors or with designs, write on them with Sharpies, decorate with some glue and glitter, or leave a few natural ones. Brown eggs look great this way!

As for closing them up, there are a few options. Most folks glue a small piece of colorful tissue paper over the open end. Nothing fancy, and nothing real durable because you want the contents to easily spill out when the timing is right.

Some people use tape (as I did in a bind one year) but it's easy to come off and looks tacky. If you are really anal about it, you can melt some wax to cover it ot use some type of putty or such. Tissue paper is traditional though. And it's easiest if you get a little glue stick/dabber type of thing and just dab a few spots of glue around the base of it and stick the tissue on it gently, so it doesn't get too moist and get all gloppy and gloopy... technical terms there.

Put some in any Easter baskets you are giving out. Whenever it's time for the fight, make sure everyone has some sort of basket or bowl to carry their ammo in, LOL.

It's said to be considered good luck if you have a cascarone broken over your head. I don't know about that, but the Easter I was pregnant with Javi, I had several broken over my head and on my belly... and the good Lord saved my "miracle baby" and he's here today! (Did you know I came very close to losing Javi? Wow... I've not thought about that in a long time... another long post for one of these days!)

If you decide to make some this year, please take pictures and share them with me! I'll be sure to post some up here once we've had our Easter celebration. And please feel free to share any Easter traditions you and your family may have. I'm a huge fan of traditions - keeping old ones and creating new ones. God Bless & have a beautiful Easter! <3

Passionate Hodgepodge

2008-03-06T09:30:00.007-05:00

What a title for this post, eh? It's just that I have plenty to say about multiple topics and didn't quite know how to categorize it... and I certainly don't want to make separate posts at the moment. These are all topics I am passionate about!

GREEN LIVING & FRUGAL LIVING

Green living (which goes hand in hand with frugal living) is on my mind heavily this morning. I was going through my daily newsletters piled up in my e-mail inbox and came across a message from a gal on my local Freecycle list. (If you're not involved in FreeCycle, please get involved! It's an organization devoted to recycling items and preventing trash from filling up our landfill. What you might see as junk, someone else could find a use for... and vice versa. I've scored some much needed items from there and it's 100% free and voluntary.)

Okay, back the the topic - green living. A gal was posting some items and had a link to her blog, which focused on green living. I've always had a passion for green living, but never took too serious of a step towards making the changes. I felt overwhelmed since in our society, it is more expensive to live a green and eco-responsible life. Sad isn't it, when it's cheaper for us to buy pesticide and genetically altered food products than it is to buy wholesome, fresh, natural foods that are best for our body? Being a single mom of 2 children, I knew I couldn't afford it.

But looking over this gal's blog, Back to Basics by Green Living, I was introduced to some fantastic ideas. I also saw that she, too, has had to take small steps towards living a greener life. It has given me hope and inspiration, and I plan on making small changes beginning now. I'll be sure to post my progress, ideas, and such on that as I go along.

As I said before, I feel green living goes hand in hand with frugal living. Most of you know my passion for frugal living already, but lately I've been not so frugal, much to my demise. In feeling "pumped up" over feeling like I can slowly tackle green living, I need to take that same bit of "umph" and apply it to my frugal living. I am a little powerhouse of information when it comes to frugal living... but lately I have not been applying it, nor sharing it.

Most of you already know, but I have a website I've created to help show others how to live frugally called Frugal-Family. I've slacked and stopped adding information there... mostly because of time issues. With working full time, church, kids' activities and so on, it's hard to find the time to properly update it. Not anymore... this is another thing I need to tackle!

More on green living later and the small steps I am making, plus my plan of where I'd ultimately like to be in regards to living a more ecologically friendly life. I also promise to start adding frugal topics into this blog, too. After all - both of these topics do bring happiness to me, especially when there is more money in my pocket to spend on needed items... or just to relive some pressure from less bills.

Two articles I read today have me wanting to hop on top of my home and just scream at the top of my lungs. One is promising and one is downright disgusting and frightening. Let's start with the bright ray of hope... then move onward to disaster.

HEMP

I said hemp - not pot, not weed, not marijuana. Yes, hemp comes from the same plant family, cannabis sativa, but they are of different varieties. (Imagine a chihuahua and a wolf, they both are from the canis lupis family... and look how different they are.)

Hemp is grown in nearly every industrialized nation in the world... except for the U.S.A. Most of the reasoning behind this stems from ignorance about hemp and the difference between it and marijuana. The active ingredient of pot that gets one high is THC. The level of THC in marijuana is anywhere from 3-20%, whereas industrial hemp is around 0.3%. Big difference there, eh?

Hemp is grown for agricultural and industrial purposes. Hemp is rich in omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, making it an excellent food and body-care ingredient. It is also used to make paper, clothing, to biodegradable plastics, fuel, and so much more. It was published in Popular Mechanics magazine that hemp can be used to produce more than 25,000 products!

Taken from Wikipedia: "Hemp requires little to no pesticides, replenishes soil with nutrients and nitrogen , controls erosion of the topsoil, and produces lots of oxygen, considering how fast it grows. Furthermore, Hemp could be used to replace many potentially harmful products, such as tree paper (the process of which uses bleaches and other toxic chemicals, apart from contributing to deforestation), cosmetics (which often contain synthetic oils that can clog pores and provide little nutritional content for the skin), plastics (which are petroleum based and cannot decompose), and more."

You can see the enormous benefit in harvesting and using hemp! But at the moment, you can only grow hemp in the U.S.A. with a permit from the D.E.A., even though it's proven that hemp does not contain enough THC to be considered a drug or anywhere near it. And from what I've read, it's dang near impossible to get a D.E.A. license to grow it. If you'd like to get involved, visit the Vote Hemp site. You can also Send a Letter to Your Legislators to let them know how you feel about the status of hemp in the U.S.A.

WE ARE EATING GENETICALLY CLONED ANIMALS

If that title isn't enough to sicken you and make you want to become vegetarian, I don't know what will. Were you aware of this at all??? I plead ignorance here - I made a decision not to read newspapers or watch the news for several years now. With all the stories focused on violence and hatred, I got tired of crying and feeling depressed every time I read/watched them.

I knew about genetically modified plants and such... and I guess that should scare me just as much, too. But it didn't. I wasn't wild about it, but it just didn't affect me as much for some reason. But I had *no* clue they were cloning animals for livestock purposes. And we are eating their offspring. Do they realize the repercussions that could wreak havoc on our bodies from this? And the FDA not only approved the use of food from cloned animals, they also have agreed NOT to require that this information be on any labeling associated with said byproducts. Please read the entire article about the FDA Approving Food from Clones and also submit a letter to let the FDA know that you are appalled and completely against this coming into force as federal law.

I mentioned vegetarianism above and for good reason. I've been veg a few times in my life. I didn't miss meat at all during those times. The only reasons I really went back to eating meat is because it was more affordable to eat "regular" foods than it was to eat healthier, plus the higher costs of meat alternatives. I put "regular" in quotes only because mainstream doesn't tend to accept vegetarianism and still thinks of it as "weird".

After reading the above, I'm really contemplating making a move back to no meats. Not to mention the recent nightmarish video caputred showing the abuse of poor cows that were sickly and being tortured to death.

My daughter was veg for a while with me, too. My son - that's a different story... although he doesn't eat a lot of meats, he prefers carbs, but doesn't really like any fruits or vegetables, so it would be harder for him. I may try to gradually move the kids towards it, since I know it's more difficult for them to make the change than it would be for me.

We have a local natural health food store that apparently has a big selection of free range, organic-fed, non-genetically engineered meats plus a big supply of other foods, supplements, etc. I've never been in there, but I've heard they have great stuff. But, I've also heard the meats are a bit pricey, so I don't know if I could even afford them. Plus I still feel guilty when I eat meat, seeing as I am such an animal lover. We'll see how this pans out.

Enough for now... Off to stalk Happiness for a bit. (*^_^*)

WoW... Not 'wow', but WoW!

2008-03-05T09:54:00.002-05:00

WoW = acronym for World of Warcraft. A MMORPG that I play. Oh right, MMORPG = Massive Multi-player Online Role-Playing Game. Get with the geek lingo, will you? ;-)

So anyhow, I started playing WoW again within the past couple of weeks. I play it in the evenings once the kiddos are down for the day... and I often tinker around with it during the day when I am at work and in between calls.

If you've never played it before... try it! They have a free 10-day trial version so you can try before you buy - not like other games where you have to download the entire game and start your membership without giving it a go-round first.

WoW is also a lot easier on computers. I used to play EQ (EverQuest) years back, but always lagged each time they brought out a new expansion or anytime I zoned (moving into a different area). But with WoW, there is seamless zoning and I notice I only lag in really crowded areas. Plus the graphics and animations are so much better than anything I've played before.

Along with enjoying the game itself, I love the little videos folks make using actual clips from the game. I also love the WoW commercials that Blizzard (the happy parent) made to promote the videos. See for yourself... my fave is the William Shatner one. =)

Dreams...

2008-03-03T11:01:00.000-05:00

You probably read the title and thought I was going to talk about nighttime dreams. After last night's dream, I don't think so. (Ever dream about someone you absolutely abhor and it angers you to think that your mind would allow you to dream about them?)

I want to talk about my dreams... the dreams that happen during daytime. Dreams that I can't let go of... the dreams I want to work hard at but sometimes lack the motivation and planning to achieve (anytime soon). Most of my dreams have two options - the easier attained option and then the grand-daddy of them all.

VEHICLES

Let's start with new/fairly new vehicles. My desire is any kind of SUV. I've never really liked cars too much and this only increased once I had kids (especially after having my second child) and realizing that more space is a good thing. Close runner-ups for SUV's are the Dodge Durango, GMC Yukon, Hummer H2 or H3, Ford Expedition, and Cadillac Escalade, but...

My dream vehicle is the Dodge Nitro! Have you seen how fly these things are??? I love every little thing about the Nitros... except that they only seat 5. Oh well, I'll just have my vehicle from above for the times when I have more folks with me!

This is my favorite color offered, the modern pearl blue. I priced one and with essentially all of the extra packages added on (rear video system, 20" wheels, chrome accents, power sunroof, etc.), the MSRP is only $34,245! Affordable for all the options they offer... just not affordable for me, right now, LOL.

There's something I've always wanted to do and most of you probably had no clue about this. I have *always* wanted to buy an old car and fix it up! I don't know enough about old cars to have too many faves, so only one category here with 2 choices. *smiles*

The first one I like is the Chevy Nova. So far, I prefer a model from 1967-1972. My neighbor's dad used to have a black Nova when we grew up and we'd always hop in it and pretend we were cruising around & being ultra awesome.

I'd probably opt for black in color or maybe a dark pearl red. I wouldn't want to customize it too much & instead leave it more pure & true to its roots!

Coming in at a close second (and sometimes it ties with a Nova) is the Chevy Chevelle. The 1970 models were tight, but I haven't seen enough of the other years to decide if I like any of them more. They have a little more of an angled, streamlined look than the Novas... almost more of a modern look. The stripes on this one look alright, but I'm not big into the racing stripes... I prefer one solid color or a medium sized graphic on the side, like some flames or such.

CAREER

Ultimately, regardless of what I become in life, I want it to be a career that I can do on my *own* time, at home or anywhere. Don't get me wrong - I am truly blessed to be working from home now for my employer, but I am still "working for the man". I want to work for me - I want to call the shots, work when I feel like it, and have more control over my work. I want to be able to work on my laptop while at the pool, sipping coffee in Starbucks, or sitting at home in my pajamas!

I'm trying to get into writing at the moment. Freelance writers, contributors to blogs, etc. can make some great money - and on their own time and terms. (*^_^*) It's hard right now though, being pressed for time with my current job, plus trying to be Mama, too!

My ultimate dream job is to have my own natural health & remedy shop. Along with that, I also want to get a degree in Natural Health and be able to have a practice in my shop, a place where I can see patients and point them towards remedies and my recommendations there in the shop. I'd have unlimited freedom in this and it also gives me a way to help others - something I prefer any job of career of mine to include. Plus I can essentially close shop if needed and still consult with patients over the phone if a problem arises.

It will happen one day, I just need to be patient. =). I would need time (and financial resources) to take my courses and build up a client base, plus have the funds to set up shop, stocking it with items, advertising, etc. But I *know* this will happen one day... and I can't wait!!!

I have plenty more dreams... I'll save them for another post. (*^_^*)

Happiness Re-Visited

2008-02-29T20:16:00.000-05:00

As a kid, I was a huge Tex Avery fan. Droopy and the futuristic cartoons by him were my favorites. For some reason, my all-time favorite popped into my head tonight and I decided to search for it, though I've not seen it nearly 20 years or more.

Needless to say, my son cracked up during the entire episode. His mom was right behind him. (*^_^*)

3/03/08 EDIT: My son enjoys this so much, he forces me to play it for him many times a day, often one right after another. Isn't it grand when your kids love the same things you do? My little Mini-me! =)

The Forbidden Kingdom

2008-02-29T12:40:00.000-05:00

I officially want to see this movie, right now! It comes out April 18... but I can't wait that long!

First off... Jet Li. Need I say more? (*^_^*)

It also has Jackie Chan and Collin Chou (Seraph from Matrix Revolutions). Li and Chou together? Yeah, my tongue will be waggling!

Let's See How Long This Lasts!

2008-02-29T12:01:00.002-05:00

So, my most specialist Angel in the world tells me she has decided to give blogging another try. I say (and she said) "try" because I see that we have both proved inept at maintaining and keeping an up-to-date blog in the past, LOL. Seeing her jump in the water again, I dig through my blogs and find one created but never really man-handled. Let the blog-groping begin. (*^_^*)

She set her blog up on WordPress - I'm sticking with Blogger for now. The only thing I didn't like about WordPress is that they charge you around $15 per year to upload your own CSS. Being the little geek that I am, I grabbed onto Blogger even tighter - free customization here.

Well, here I am, all ready to blog. I guess I could explain why I chose the title of this blog... without telling my life story. I actively (and maniacally) pursue happiness and bliss. Some would call my "pursuit" stalking... so I humor those of you with such creative (and accurate) verbiage. Let me explain...

I WANT TO BE HAPPY!!!

Now, let me clarify some things. First off, I am happy. I am blessed with two perfect babies that mean the world to me. If I'd never had either one of them, I might be dead - in all seriousness. I was depressed as a child and teen, and then as I became an adult, I battled a few bouts of depression. Most of my adulthood downs were from a failed marriage, but nonetheless I felt depressed at being thrown into a "single mom with 2 kids and barely scraping by" status.

I always felt something was missing in my life. I went on a quest to find out what it was. Through many horrible (and some ridiculous) relationships, outlandish "theories" and reasonings for the hole in my heart, to hours and hours of self-evaluation and spiritual journeys, I've finally come to the conclusion of what was missing.

I DID NOT HAVE A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD.

Wait... don't run! Now, I wonder how many people would stop reading in the next few sentences, or even after that bold statement. I can imagine how many folks would immediately assume that this is going to be the blog of a "thumper". I hope you'll read on and realize that these things simply aren't true.

I am someone who was raised with absolutely no religion. I've educated myself on many of the major religions of the world - Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Santeria, Christianity, Wicca, and Bahai and so many more. It took me many years to really have a relationship with what I consider to be God and to feel comfortable in my beliefs.

The moment I truly discovered God, I felt at peace. I felt loved and cared for, protected and nurtured, and above all... I felt whole! I try to live a good life and be uplifting, positive, and content. I succeed most days, as I truly am a happy person and thankful for my life.

But... oh, come one - you KNEW a "but" was coming! I also struggle with past decisions that still affect my life today in a negative way. I have financial struggles on a daily basis. I still have days where I feel like a failure at this or that... and I still have days when I feel lonely. I'm still having to learn from my mistakes and try to move forward without retracing those very same steps towards disaster.

Here's where the stalking comes in. Years ago I decided I was fed up with always feeling helpless about my situation and the course of my life. I also realized how I despised people that came into work miserable because of their home life. You know the type, they carry their ball and chain around with them everywhere they go. I've never been the type to do this, but I feared one day that could be me.

You know the old adage, "Fake it 'til you make it"? This became my motto. I began smiling at everyone I passed in the hallways. I greeted everyone with a "hi" or even a "how are you?". I smiled... and I smiled... and then I smiled even more. And guess what? It began to become natural to me. No more mental voices saying, "Okay, here comes Don, just smile and say 'hi' ". I grew into a happy person (who has normal ups and downs) and who learned to adapt to most situations with ease.

I faked it... and I made it! I followed the creature, Happiness, everywhere she went. Sometimes she was ever elusive, but I remained on the prowl. (Imagine Elmer Fudd in his hunting gear on... but a little bit cuter.) I still follow her around, sometimes taking pictures, sometimes staring at her for hours on end, feeling pure bliss. Sometimes I sneak into bed with her at night, snuggle with her while she sleeps and smile as I drift off into Happy-Land. Yes folks, I am still referring to her - Happiness. ;-)

Come with me as I take you along for the adventure...