In Da Pool!

Broadcasting LIVE from the pool (actually in the water too) at Sue-B's apartment in Corsicana,TX and trying like hell to keep my cellphone dry.

Corsicana here I come.

I'm looking forward to my trip to Corsicana this weekend and a much needed break! I have to call Sue-B today and make sure everything is still a "GO" on her end and get directions. I hope nothing goes wrong. Sometimes it seems that the more I'm looking forward to an event, the more likely it is the fall though. Oh wait, that's just life. Nevermind.

I'm going out to kakaoke tonight as usual. I don't know if I'll stay all night. Nacho came by the office Monday and went with me on my lunch break. He plans on coming by the club tonight to see me. I guess I'm too nice. I just couldn't bring myself to jump his case about the stalking business. I just want it to fade away without confrontation.

I think I'll go by the T-Stop again tonight and see if I can run into Jason (aka Big Daddy). I'm hoping to see him a least once before I leave out Saturday morning.

Theme Thursday - Strain

Strain

I feel the nerves tightening
Twisting themselves around my mind
I'm getting another migraine

My head it so tied up
I can't even think straight
I feel myself slipping into the dark

I don't know how to make it stop
Thoughts thrashing wildly
Trying to stay in the light

The pressure never lets up
Constantly pushing and pulling against myself
Waiting for the snap



Angela A.Ochoa

Having a perfectly shoeless day!

It is 1:36 P.M. and I have yet to put on my shoes today. I have them. They're on the floor next to my desk. I just haven't bothered to put them on. I carried them from the car when I came into the office this morning. My goal is to go through my entire day without shoes. Then and only then will it be a TRUE perfectly shoeless day! Considering that I'm already more than half way there, I think I'm off to an excellent start.


***UPDATE***

It is now 5:30 and I am STILL shoeless! Almost home free!

Smitten or Slap Happy...You decide.

I'm was pretty excited when I left the truck stop, but I think a little of it might be contributed to the mass quantities of coffee I consumed! I mentioned Big Daddy on an earlier post. I've noticed him at the T-Stop nearly every time I go in these days. The last time I saw him, we had only a brief conversation before he left. Last night, he and I ended up talking for THREE HOURS! During that time, I managed to find out a bit more about him and so far he seems like a pretty cool guy and damn funny! The fact that he's NOT married, has his own truck and is GAINFULLY employed, puts him leaps and bounds ahead of anyone I've dated since I broke up with Michael 2 years ago!

After those few hours, my normally painfully shy/fearful self was comfortable enough with him to tenatively plan a trip to Shreveport, LA. The company he works for offers bus trips to and from Shreveport every couple of months and he and I are planning to go on the next one around July. A lot can happen between now and July, so I'm not getting too worked up over the whole thing. I have to admit though, I am pretty excited to have met what seems to be a decent guy. We shall see.

BTW...Big Daddy's real name is Jason!

Another failure

Another failed attempt to share the music.

From the show

I really wanted to do a post with one of the singers kicking it in the background, but the music just wasn't coming across. I was pretty encouraged by the turn out for the new show. The crowd was small, but better than I had hoped for on a first night. I was particularly glad to know that a few were there specifically for karaoke (even a couple of NON-singers). The real highlight of the night was hearing my friend Robert sing for the first time, then continue to put in songs all night long! In the two years that I've known Robert, I never pegged him as a singer. Other than hearing him sing along under his breath once in awhile, he never gave any indication that he wanted to sing karaoke. After 13 years of going to and working for karaoke shows, I'm pretty good at spotting potential singers and encouraging them to get up and sing. Over the years, I've "created" dozens of singers, but I completely missed Robert. I shocked even more so by the fact that he can carry a tune. He's far from the best I've ever heard but he did really well. I was kind of proud that he debuted at MY show!

First Show

It's almost time to call it a day here at the office. I'm going to grab a quick dinner then head over to the club. Tonight I'm kicking off the first Tuesday night show. Hopefully I'll get a good crowd. Maybe just maybe, I'll be able to do an audio post. I may have to change my site to Angela's internet karaoke! TTFN

Jail Time

On July 22,2004 I'm going to be arrested. I would greatly appreciate any donations to help me post BAIL! I'll be taking part in a charity LOCK UP for Muscular Dystrophy in July complete with police and fireman arresting me at work. I'll be transported by limo to a local restaurant to appear before the "judge". After my bail is met, I'll be free to go! (although I don't know why I would ever want to leave a bunch of men in uniforms WITH HANDCUFFS!)

As I get more details, I'll be certain to post updates. This is going to be way cool!


PS. I finally got to watch Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood. Considering that the movie had to have been named after me, you would think that I would have seen it before now. Anyway, it was a great movie and there were times when the Ya-Ya's bore a remarkable resemblance to me and my friends. Now I need to figure out how to get the whole lot together for a blood oath. HUM....maybe a Bloody Mary oath would be better. Yeah....with LOTS of Tabasco!

Now this is a REAL TRAGEDY!

Mon May 24, 9:36 AM ETAdd Oddly Enough - Reuters to My Yahoo!


LONDON (Reuters) - Homer's ancient Greek poem 'The Iliad,' the basis for Hollywood blockbuster 'Troy,' has been compressed for a new generation too lazy to see the film let alone read the 24-book epic that runs to over 15,000 lines.

The first five books of the centuries-old tale, set in the final year of the Trojan War -- which began when Trojan Paris snatched Helen (the face that launched a thousand ships) from Greece -- are now available in the language people use when sending instant messages, Microsoft said on Monday.
Book Two is reduced to just 24 words of 'messenger speak', losing some of the lyricism of the original. 'Agamemnon hd a dream: Troy not defended. Ordered attack! But Trojans knew they were coming n were prepared. Achilles sat sulking in his tent.'
The translation, designed to publicize Microsoft's messenger product, is not written in Homer's dactylic hexameters but it does use 'emoticons' -- little faces or images -- to emphasize intense moments. "

Yahoo! News - Homer's 'Iliad' Now in 'Messenger Speak': "Homer's 'Iliad' Now in 'Messenger Speak'

Recovery from the weekend!

It's Monday and I'm back at work after an awesome three day weekend. I'm still feeling the sunburn I got from Track Day on Friday and sitting outside at my sister's garage sale on Saturday. Normally, if I pink up a little, I'll be brown the next day but this time, even though most of the redness is gone, I'm still sore on my shoulders and knees. Maybe I'm feeling the burn more this time because it's the first sun I've had this season of course it could also be that I'm getting old. Nah!

Saturday night was hellabusy and during most of the show I was plagued by tech problems. Several of the CD-G's in the library I was using (not the one I use regularly)were scratched or needed serious cleaning. In spite of it all, it was still a pretty good night. The down side of working the shows is that I didn't have much time to hang out with my friends Sara and Sue-B. At least they both understand that I'm working and don't intend to neglect them! After the show, I headed to the Truck-Stop for coffee and to check in with my friend Sandra, the waitress. To my delight, Big Daddy was there too! I don't know his real name, but at about 6'6" or 6'7" and broad to go with it, Big Daddy says it all! YUMMY!! Anyway, I actually got to talk to him a little this time and he seems like a pretty nice guy. Hopefully, Sandra will put in a good word for me. I think a red-headed giant could keep me amused for days and days!

Sunday was pretty laid back. I slept WAY late (until 12:30) and took my time getting cleaned up and dressed for the day. I walked over the Steph's (again) and spent the afternoon hanging out with my nephews and brother-in-law. (They finished the Lord of the Rings Trilogy PS2 game and it was fun trying out the new codes it unlocked!) I had dinner with them and watched some TV before peddling home on my bike. After a week, I finally managed to get my bike home! I got home around 8:30 and spent the next 2 hours figuring out how to adjust the brakes on my bike. Nothing says relaxation like tinkering in the middle of the bedroom floor!

This will have to do for now!

Posting after a really busy show on Saturday night. I had intended to post DURING the show, but time and tech problems wouldn't allow it. I'll have to see how things go at the new show on Tuesday night. If I have a good turn out, maybe I'll do an audio post then!

Hard days night.

On my way home Friday night after the show.

LIVE FROM TRACK DAY!!

Checking in from my nephews Track Day!!

Take time to make time.

When the hell did I grow-up? I don't remember crossing the line from reckless youth to responsible adult. (would you believe SEMI-responsible?) It kinda sucks that one of my best friends and I have to schedule to meet for coffee. Between my job(s) and her family and college, we seldom manage to be in the same place at the same time without planning it a week ahead of time. I could blame it on the 50 miles that separate her house from mine, but that's not it. My office is only 15 miles from her house.

The blame lies in that we're both adults trying to get by in this ever more demanding world. We're assaulted on all sides to do more, be more and earn more. But while we're being hounded for MORE, MORE, MORE we're also simultaneously be robbed of our most precious commodity...TIME. I decided a long time ago that I would not give in to the pressures that society places on me. What I achieve or don't achieve is my decision, as is how I spend my time. While running the gauntlet of day to day life, I almost forgot that I have that choice. I won't forget again. Tomorrow, somewhere between my nephews' field day events and the sack lunch, I'll get out my calendar and MAKE time to have coffee with my best friend.

Sue-B Doo-B Doo!

My friend Sue just surprised me here at work. She's in town tying up loose ends after her move to Corsicana, so she took the opportunity to drop by and say hello. Since I can't make it up there this weekend, she's going to come down here and stay with me! Hopefully next weekend, if Sue doesn't have to work, I can drive up and hang out in her territory. I've been needing a change of scenery for months, and a weekend away seems like just the remedy!

This weeks Theme Thursday - FRAME

For this week's Theme Thursday, I was going to write a poem about a framed picture that sits on my desk. The picture is of myself, dancing with an ex-boyfriend. I had intended to write about what was and what could have been, but no matter how many times I revised, reworded and rewrote it, the poem just wouldn't come together. In spite of all my best efforts, I failed. It just hit me a few minutes ago, why I couldn't write that poem. He doesn't inspire me anymore. I guess I finally used up whatever love, hope, heartbreak or anger I had left for him. That's not quite right. I've used up all of the INTENSE felling I had for him. He and I are still more or less friends, so I do still care about his well-being etc. I've just exhausted all of the really deep felt emotions that inspired me to write about him.

After that revelation, I've now added a couple more things to my ever expanding "TO DO" list. First - find a new muse. Second - find a new picture for that frame!

Just messing around.

Updates to the Blog

I've added a couple of new items over the last two days. The audio blog, being the most obvious and the BlogRoll links section on the sidebar. I still have a thing or two that I'm trying to sort out but for the most part, I'm done changing things for awhile.

As I'm surfing, I'll be adding to the BlogRoll from time to time, so keep tabs on the sidebar for links to my favorite places on the web.

Also of note. The audio posts do not allow commenting, so I may have to do separate, supplemental text posts in order to make that feature available.

One final note from your Yaya to you..."Drive it like you stole it", sadly, does not mean to drive as if you are evading arrest.

My First AudioBlog!!!!

Just when I thought I couldn't love my cellphone anymore....I find AudioBlogger!!! I think I'm gonna cry! Now I can post stuff over the weekend too!!!

Three-day weekend!

I'm taking off this Friday to go cheer Alex and Sammy (my nephews) on in their Field Day events. This is the first year that I've been able to attend and I'm really looking forward to it! Not only do I get to cheer the boys on with the rest of the family, but I also get a three-day weekend too. It's good to be the YAYA!

The next few weekends are already booked up and I have no clue as to how I'm going to find the time for all that I want to do. I had to call Sue-B this morning and cancel my visit to her in Corsicana, beceause I have a show to work this weekend. I promised to do the show WEEKS ago and didn't realize, when I made plans with Sue, that it was the same weekend. As scatter brained as I am here lately, trying to keep up with stuff in my head, just isn't cutting it! I have GOT to get back in the habit of using my planner to keep track of everything I have going on.

I just glanced at the calendar and realized that I've once again planned two items for the same day. UGH!! Oh well, at least one of them is something I can easily move to another weekend.

Still making the grade.

Kelly called last night to tell me that, even though I'm no longer in school, I'm still making the grade. Kelly recently went back to school and one of the classes she is taking requires that she bring in five poems. One had to be an original from the student and the other four could be from any author of their choosing. Having been one of my best friends for SEVERAL years now, Kel knows that I write poetry and has even read a few over the years. (only a few because I keep most of my work stashed...locked safely away for the GP)

Anyway, I sent two poems for Kelly to choose from and she ended up taking both. Last night, she presented the poem "Time" (see the "I'm just getting warmed up" post)to her public speaking class, and it got an "A". Can you tell that I am somewhat pleased? "Time" was the second of the two poems to be presented and received a great response as did the first.

I'm still a bit disbelieving. I never thought that the general population (GP) would care anything for my work. Now I'm wondering if I can actually do something with my poetry, other than hide it. All sorts of ideas, like open mic readings and maybe even publishing a book of poetry, are floating through my little head right now! For the first time in a very long time, I'm actually excited by the possibilities before me.

News Flash!

I was saving this little tid bit until I was certain it was going to happen. Betty called a few minutes ago and gave me the details so its definitely a GO! I'm getting my own karaoke show on Tuesday nights!! It will be at Lonesome Dove (where we already have shows on Thurday and Saturday) so it will be pretty easy to get a good crowd going. I'm well known out there too, so the locals know that I run a good show.

I'm pretty excited. Having your own show, that you do every week, is very different that just helping out or filling in for someone else. Even though I quit doing regular shows years ago, because two full time jobs was just too much for me, I'm hoping that just one night a week won't eefect me too badly. I do miss having my own show and my own crowd. My first show will be next week on the 25th. Wish me luck!

P.S. Here is a little bit of wisdom from your Yaya to you...hair spray and nail polish remover should not be left in a hot car. They should especially not be left in the seat where they will be subjected to direct sunlight. If left too long, they can and WILL explode.

The rest of the weekend.

Okay, back from a pleasant albeit uneventful lunch break.

I went out a lot this weekend as I mentioned earlier. Friday and Saturday I didn't get home until well after 2am. (I've always been a night owl). Unfortunately, I have to sleep occasionally. My plan to be at Stephenie's by 10am Sunday for a re-match was totally shattered when I didn't wake up until mom called me at 1:30 Sunday afternoon! Those late nights wear me down a lot more than they used to!

I rode my bike over to my sister's place and was glad to see that they were as worn out as I was. The re-match was postponed until after dinner when the temperature dropped below 80+ degrees. It was obvious from the start of the game that I was playing my best. After about an hour (and missing several easy balls) I decided to sit out the rest of the game. I was just too tired and I still had to ride my bike home. Stephenie my dear, wonderful, fantastic sister had pity on me and drove me home. YEAH! By nine o'clock, I was passed out on the couch for a much needed rest!

Weekend recap.

The trip to see Van Helsing with my Mom and my friend Sara, ended up with the added bonus of my nephews going along too. We all enjoyed the movie and the boys played vampire VS. werewolf most of the afternoon. After the movie, Mom caught a ride home with Sara and I took the nephews with me to run my Saturday errands. One of the things the boys and I do when I have them, is hit the local parks. Since I didn't have time to plan anything for them, the park seemed like a great last minute activity after getting my errands done.

After a quick phone call to a local friend (have I ever mentioned how much I LOVE my cellphone), we were on our way to the closest park. My nephews and I are park connoisseurs and we have very high standards. I'm happy to report that the park we visited got very high marks. There were lots of things to play on, a shaded pavilion with picnic tables and NO stickers! Even I got in on the few and tried out the slide, swings and merry-go-round. WEEEEEE! Why should the kids have ALL the fun? Anyway, Steph called around 6:30, wanting her children back. We'd only been gone since NOON!

Back at Steph's, we played volleyball for awhile then I headed out to club for another night of karakoe. Lately I've been trying to limit myself to going out on either Friday or Saturday but not both. I basically blew that idea to hell. This past week I ended up going out THURSDAY Friday and Saturday. Hey, If I'm gonna mess up, I'm gonna make it count!

There's still a bit more to tell, but I must be leaving for lunch now. TAH-TAH!

Bloomberg.com: U.S.

Bloomberg.com: U.S.: "First Privately-Built Rocket Reaches Space, L.A. Times Reports
May 14 (Bloomberg) -- The SpaceShipOne rocket became the first privately-funded rocket to reach the edge of space when it hit 211,400 feet yesterday, an altitude only astronauts and military pilots usually reach, the Los Angeles Times reported. "


I wonder how many UPC symbols you have to send in to get one. I could become Queen of the MOON!!!!

To hell with UPC symbols...I'll build my own. Now where did I leave that hot-glue gun?

Google News

Google News: "
ITV.com
Danish Crown Prince Weds Australia's Mary
Reuters - 1 hour ago
COPENHAGEN (Reuters) - Heir to the Danish throne Crown Prince Frederik married Tasmania's Mary Donaldson on Friday in a fairy-tale wedding of a prince and a commoner that delighted pro-monarchy Danes and Australian ..."

Just one more prince I missed out on! *sniff,sniff* And Queen YAYA has such a lovely ring to it. If this keeps up, I'll have to start my own country in order to get a title!

Van-Hoo Helsing

The details, for taking Mom to see Van Helsing on Saturday, have all been worked out. Not only that, but one of my best friends,Sara, will be coming too! We call Sara my Mom's "real" daughter because she looks more like my mother than I do. They both have short hair, glasses and have fair complexions. Even though I wear glasses, my really dark (almost black but not quite) and really REALLY long hair, throws people off. If they stop and take a good look, it's not that difficult to see my mother in me. I guess most people just don't bother to really see the people around them.

Mom was excited to hear that Sara would be coming too. Because Sara has other things going on later Saturday, we were hoping to catch an early showing of the movie. This posed a problem because Mom works nights and is accustomed to sleeping during the day. I was afraid that Mom wouldn't go for an early movie. I was wrong. When she found out that Sara could only make it if we went before two, she said that we should plan whatever time we had to, and she'd be there! It's pretty damn cool that my Mom and my friends get along so well. Now if I could only find a guy that EVERYONE liked! Another testament to the old cliche,"you can't have it all'!

Theme Thursday: RING

For Theme Thursday may I present to you this poem by William Cullen Bryant. One of my all time favorites, depicting the cirle(ring) of life.

Thanatopsis

To him who in the love of nature holds
Communion with her visible forms, she speaks
A various language; for his gayer hours
She has a voice of gladness, and a smile
And eloquence of beauty; and she glides
Into his darker musings, with a mild
And healing sympathy that steals away
Their sharpness ere he is aware. When thoughts
Of the last bitter hour come like a blight
Over thy spirit, and sad images
Of the stern agony, and shroud, and pall,
And breathless darkness, and the narrow house,
Make thee to shudder, and grow sick at heart;--
Go forth, under the open sky, and list
To Nature's teachings, while from all around--
Earth and her waters, and the depths of air--
Comes a still voice. Yet a few days, and thee
The all-beholding sun shall see no more
In all his course; nor yet in the cold ground,
Where thy pale form was laid, with many tears,
Nor in the embrace of ocean, shall exist
Thy image. Earth, that nourished thee, shall claim
Thy growth, to be resolved to earth again,
And, lost each human trace, surrendering up
Thine individual being, shalt thou go
To mix forever with the elements,
To be a brother to the insensible rock
And to the sluggish clod, which the rude swain
Turns with his share, and treads upon. The oak
Shall send his roots abroad, and pierce thy mold.

Yet not to thine eternal resting-place
Shalt thou retire alone, nor couldst thou wish
Couch more magnificent. Thou shalt lie down
With patriarchs of the infant world -- with kings,
The powerful of the earth -- the wise, the good,
Fair forms, and hoary seers of ages past,
All in one mighty sepulchre. The hills
Rock-ribbed and ancient as the sun, -- the vales
Stretching in pensive quietness between;
The venerable woods -- rivers that move
In majesty, and the complaining brooks
That make the meadows green; and, poured round all,
Old Ocean's gray and melancholy waste,--
Are but the solemn decorations all
Of the great tomb of man. The golden sun,
The planets, all the infinite host of heaven,
Are shining on the sad abodes of death
Through the still lapse of ages. All that tread
The globe are but a handful to the tribes
That slumber in its bosom. -- Take the wings
Of morning, pierce the Barcan wilderness,
Or lose thyself in the continuous woods
Where rolls the Oregon, and hears no sound,
Save his own dashings -- yet the dead are there:
And millions in those solitudes, since first
The flight of years began, have laid them down
In their last sleep -- the dead reign there alone.

So shalt thou rest -- and what if thou withdraw
In silence from the living, and no friend
Take note of thy departure? All that breathe
Will share thy destiny. The gay will laugh
When thou art gone, the solemn brood of care
Plod on, and each one as before will chase
His favorite phantom; yet all these shall leave
Their mirth and their employments, and shall come
And make their bed with thee. As the long train
Of ages glides away, the sons of men--
The youth in life's fresh spring, and he who goes
In the full strength of years, matron and maid,
The speechless babe, and the gray-headed man--
Shall one by one be gathered to thy side,
By those, who in their turn, shall follow them.

So live, that when thy summons comes to join
The innumerable caravan, which moves
To that mysterious realm, where each shall take
His chamber in the silent halls of death,
Thou go not, like the quarry-slave at night,
Scourged to his dungeon, but, sustained and soothed
By an unfaltering trust, approach thy grave
Like one who wraps the drapery of his couch
About him, and lies down to pleasant dreams.

Hook me up!

Maybe my idea for an intravenous coffee drip wasn't too bad after all!
News

They're Heeeeerrreeee!!!!!!!

Check out this article about UFO'S filmed over Mexico on March 5,2004. It's about time the little green turkeys showed up. I hate to think that we are the sole example of "intelligent" life!

Yahoo! News - Video Creates a UFO Stir

INFP - The Dreamer

INFP - The Dreamer

Of late, I have been doing extensive research into personality types. My intention is to learn more about myself. I must to admit that what I've learned thus far, has been quite an eye-opener. After taking numerous persolality tests, I've have beyond doubt, determined that I am an INFP type personality. Reading the profiles for INFP's is at times both disturbing and reassuring. It's a bit scarey to know that your entire way of thinking is different than 99% of the world but at the same time I'm comforted to know that the remaining 1% are just like me. I just wish I could find a few more of them and comapre notes.

Changing and arranging.

Obviously, I've changed up the blog a bit. This is a learn as I go endeavor and I'm most certainly getting educated on the world of blogging. The comments have been changed from Haloscan to Blogger. I got REALLY tired of all the debugging prompts that kept coming up because of Haloscan. Unfortunately, the old comments are no longer shown on the old posts. They're still saved in my Haloscan account but they will no longer be part of my blog. With luck, the new Blogger comments will work well.

Besides changing the comments, I also changed the template for my site. For everything, a price must be paid. I got a spiffy new look to the blog and I neato profile page, but now my LINKS section is no more, UGH!!!! I suppose it's true that you can't have it all. I'm still working on a way post a permanent link section. I'll keep you posted.

By the way...feel free to let me know what you think of my remodeling!

Round trip.

The BBQ at Shay's was fun, except for having to miss the BBQ itself. The girl that works two doors down from my office, stopped by to chat and return the nail polish she had borrowed. When she left, neither of us realized that her keys were still sitting on my desk! At seven o'clock, when she went to leave (an hour after I had already gone), it hit her that she was stuck! A couple of phone calls later, I was on my back to the office to rescue her. Round trip took me about an hour. It was just my bad luck that they were about to eat when as I got the call and had to leave. On the upside, as I arrived back at Shay's house, some of her other guests were leaving. One of which was a guy named Casey. He's a 22 year old twerp that gets on my nerves because he lies and tries to swindle people. At least the hour I spent driving to the office and back, saved me from having to socialize with the punk.

I had a great time when I got back to the BBQ. I've hang out with Shay and Nick and their other friends a few times before, so I knew everyone there. We sat around gabbing, playing darts and singing karaoke until nearly 2AM! In spite of being a little tired today, I consider the evening well worth it.

:: JASON MRAZ ::

:: JASON MRAZ ::
I heard this guy on my local radio station last week; he totally blew me away! If you get a chance, give him a listen. I'm not impressed by most of the new stuff out there these days, but Jason Mraz has definitely got IT!

Shay Baby

Tonight I'm hanging out with my friends Shay and Nicholas. Because of the lovely weather, they're having a spur of the moment BBQ. The last couple of times they've called me, I wasn't really in the mood to go out. Now that I'm feeling better, I think it's high time I got sociable again.

Mother's Day weekend

The weekend was almost as low-key as I had intended. The Friday night show I was asked to work, ended up be cancelled by the jerk that owns the bar, leaving me free to hang out for awhile at one of the other shows. I sang a couple of songs then headed home to get a head start on sleeping in! Saturday morning Joey (short for JoAnn) called around 9:30 to see if I wanted to go see the 10AM showing of Van Helsing with her...uh...YEA! It's amazing how quickly I can get out the door, when the proper motivation is supplied!
The movie was great. I'm not real big on blood and guts as a substitute for plot, so I really appreciated the LOW GORE factor. There are some good 'jump in your seat' moments and awesome images. As a whole, I consider it well worth watching. In fact, I plan on taking Mom to see it this coming weekend. It's not often that a preview gets her interested enough to actually go to the movies, however, she said a couple of times that she'd like to see Van Helsing. I'll enjoying watching it again and catching anything I may have missed the first time around.
After the movie, we went back to JoAnn's house and hung out with her mom for awhile. Her mom is really a nice lady (the old school type that feeds everyone that comes in). I ended up watching Star:Nemesis before finally heading over to Steph's house. I had to drop off the little gifts I had bought for the Mom's Day brunch. When I got there, all the kids were out in the front yard trying to build a clubhouse from cardboard boxes. FUN! Of course we being the cool aunt that I am, could help but join in the building effort. Alas, even after using over half a roll of packaging tape, our clubhouse just didn't work out. I think it had a lot to do with the wind that kept blowing it over. We finally decided to give up and play volleyball instead. Before too long, my sister and a couple of the neighbors had joined in. Steph and I played on opposing teams which made for some REALLY interesting team rivalry. The game got quite a boost when we traded the volley ball in for beach ball that measured about two and a half feet across! The sucker was so big, it nearly took out the net more than a few times!
Sunday of course was Mother's Day and we had the 3rd annual Mother's Dat brunch. It went quite well. All of the mom's won several gifts during the various games and I even got a couple of things. (My family celebrates Aunt's Day along with Mother's Day.)
In my book, the highlight of the day was the volleyball re-match that ended up being a kids (11 and under) vs. adults (28 and up) game. Thankfully, the kids gave out before we did! All in all it was a pretty good day.

The best laid plans...

Well, it was a nice idea while it lasted. Betty called a few minutes ago and asked me to cover another show until the regular KJ gets there. Considering he won't be leaving his regular job until 10:30 p.m. at the earliest, and the show only goes til 12, it's pretty safe to say I'll be working all night. At least I'll still have Saturday and most of Sunday to kick back and try to shake the low feeling I've had since Steph's cancer scare. Now, I need to get busy calling some friends and seeing if I can get some moral suport for tonight. Who knows, maybe going out tonight will do me good.

Good Deed??

My lunch break was quite eventful. I ate, got Mom's Angel Cards and even saved a bird's life. Two blackbirds were fighting in the parking lot. One of the birds was getting its poor birdie ass kicked. I, being the root for the underdog kinda girl that I am, HAD to intervene. I chased the bully bird off long enough for my feathered friend to escape. Forget survival of the fittest, I'll not bare witness to birdoside!

Finally...FRIDAY!

I'm so ready for the weekend, I can't stand it! It's not that I have big plans. I just REALLY need some down time. It is my intention, to stay home this weekend. I might even finish the bookcases I started painting in September!

Other than the Mother's Day brunch at my sister's house on Sunday, I have NO PLANS whatsoever. Today on my lunch break, I hope to find the set of Angel Cards I promised to get Mom for Mother's Day. If I don't find them today, I will have to spend Saturday trying to track down a set. I think I had best make a couple of calls BEFORE I go searching. Just to be on the safe side.

How's this for twisted?

This weeks Theme Thursday is TWISTED. Since I cannot participate with photos at this time, I will contribute in my own fashion. I present to you the following event:

Things can happen in an instant that will forever alter your life. I was reminded of that this weekend. There are no guarantees in this world. There is no promise that our lives will be everything that we want. The best that any of us can do is to make the most of the day you're given. Dwelling on the past is a waste of valuable time and energy. The past can't be changed, only learned from then left behind. In addition, planning so far ahead that you lose sight of the here and now, is also a waste. Having goals is great, as is having a general outline or game plan, but forgetting to really LIVE, while busy planning the journey, is defeating the purpose.

Sunday evening I had dinner with my friend Margo and her kids. She and I were going to watch the Cold Creek Manor DVD as soon as her ex-husband picked up the kids. I never got to watch the movie. Just as the kiddos were packing up to go, my brother-in-law, Keith, called. He wanted me to come over right away. My sister had gone to the emergency room earlier and was now heading home, but she called him upset and crying and asked that he have Mom and I there when she got to the house. No questions asked, I told Margo I had to leave ASAP and called Mom at work.

We arrived at Steph's house within minutes of one another but much to our dismay, Stephenie wasn't yet home. Mom and I both drove over 20 miles the get there, but Stephenie was only about 10 miles away. She should have gotten home before us. More than a little worried already, Mom, Keith and I paced the driveway and fretted about what could be wrong. Keith called the hospital to see if she was still there, but no, she had already left.

Worry turned to fear as we all waited for my sister to come home. I wandered into the house to wait by the phone in case she called again. It was another ten minutes before I finally saw her car pull into the driveway. I could hear her sobbing before I ever got out the front door. As I walked across the front yard, I saw Stephenie clinging to her husband. Mom kept asking, What's wrong?! Stephenie, WHAT'S WRONG?!" Through those heart wrenching sobs my sisterÂ’s reply was a wail, "I'll never see my babies grow up!"

I can't explain how my blood turned to ice at that moment. My little sister is no drama queen. This was for real.

I have stay calm. I have to be strong. Oh my God, what's going on? These are just a few of the thoughts racing through my mind.

It took several minutes for Stephenie to calm down enough to tell us what had happened. She went to the emergency room and they said she had pneumonia. After doing a chest X-ray, they found something else. Lymphoma. Cancer.

It was like standing wide-awake in the middle of your worst nightmare. My chest and throat tightened. I could hear my heart pounding in my ears as the whole world shifted like the image in a funhouse mirror. Shock took hold and a haze dropped over reality. Most of what I recall of those next few hours are a blur of raw emotion. Anger, sadness, fear, apprehension, doubt, courage and love were swirling around in the maelstrom of conversation that followed in the wake of the "C" bomb. I can even remember a few times when we were actually laughing. Somehow within all the chaos, I crude plan of attack was formed. The first thing being to find out exactly how bad the cancer was and what treatments (if any) are available. The hospital had stressed the need to be seen by her family doctor first, then pursue treatment options, so that became our priority. Once we knew exactly what we were up against, we could better prepare to fight.

The secondary course of action would we the legal papers insuring that I would become the boys' guardian if something happened to Stephenie and Keith and setting up the kids to be home schooled. In the event that the cancer wasn't treatable, Stephenie wanted to spend as much time as possible with her children. Understandable. I have a client at my office that is a paralegal and another that has home schooled her kids for several years. I would be able to start work on those two projects as soon as I got back to work.

After hashing out a few more important details, I headed home around midnight to get some sleep. This proved to be an exercise in futility if ever there was such a thing. The few times I dozed off were haunted by strange dreams. (small wonder) I finally gave up on sleeping and just sat in the dark trying to digest my share of what had been shoved down our throats. Do I need to even mention that all of this had left me more than a little sick feeling. I called the office around 7AM to let them know I wouldn't be in for an undetermined number of days. I'm truly thankful that my boss is so understanding, and let me take off as long as needed.

Stephenie made an appointment with her family doctor for 11:30 that day. Dr. Polly would review the information and then refer Steph to a cancer specialist. Mom and Keith both went to the doctor's office with my sister. I chose to stay behind and pick my nephews up from school at 1:00 rather than letting the neighbor get them. It made me feel better knowing that they were with one of us. I, like the rest of my little family, tend to draw everyone in when things are going wrong.

With all that had happened weighing on my mind, I decided to walk the two or three blocks to the school and meet the boys. It was a nice day and I didn't want to take it for granted, besides, I needed some time to think. I left early, around noon, so that I could stop for lunch at the corner store. The doctor's appointment was for 11:30 so I didn't expect to hear from anyone until later. While I was getting a bottle of water from the cooler, I was startled by my cellphone. I was surprised to see Mom's home number on the screen. When I answered, Mom's first words were, "They were wrWhat"
Me: "What? What do you mean?"
Mom: "They were WRONG!"
Me: "You mean wrong as in no cancer?"
Mom: "YES! There is NO cancer."
If I had not be standing in the middle of a convience store, I would have stouted! NO CANCER!!!

Steph's doctor reviewed her case and even went back to have the X-rays checked again. The radiologist from the hospital confirmed, Stephenie had pneumonia, yes, but cancer, no, definitely not.

I will end this here mainly because I'm tired of writing/thinking about it. I still have a lot of unresolved issues that I need to work through. There were thoughts and feeling uncovered by this, that suprised even myself. As I figure this stuff out, I'll me certain to post it.

STALKER STATUS REPORT

At present I have two stalkers. Stalker1 is an ex-boyfriend from about nine years ago. Over the years he has made numerous attempts to win me back. Stalker2 is the friend of an old roommate. He's been infatuated with me since I was 19 years old(about 13 yrs now). I rate him the 2nd place stalker because these days he mainly just sits and stares at me if we happen to be in the same place. He was told years ago that serious action would be taken if he EVER spoke to me again. I think he finally got the message. Although he irritates me, I think he's fairly harmless.

Coming back to Stalker1, of late, he's greatly increased his stalker-ish behavior. Several times last week he was spotted driving past the home of one of my close friends, where he knows I spend a lot of time. Yesterday, while I was gone on my lunch break, he came by my office and left a 20oz. Coke on my desk. Back when we were dating I was a big-time Coke drinker and he used to rag me about it all the time. Him bringing me a Coke is kind of like a peace offering. Yeah, right! He buzzed Margo's house twice (that we know of) last night. Once while I was still there and once more only minutes after I left. I have a feeling that he was parked near-by watching. I caught him doing exactly that a couple of days before Thanksgiving.
Normally, I'm not a paranoid person. If anything, I'm the complete opposite. I 've always held to the "live and let live" creedo, but right now it's getting more and more difficult to maintain that attitude. I'm beginning to get freaked out by el numero uno stalker. I really don't know how to handle this. If he's mess up enough to be following me, what is ha capable of doing if I actually confront him? I admit, I'm more than a little scared.

Radio Ga-Ga

This morning my local radio station was interviewing a woman named Alison James. They were talking about her book "I Used to Miss Him...But My Aim is Improving." The basic premise behind the book is that after a break-up, it's okay to be angry. Alison even takes it a bit further and says it okay to retaliate IN MODERATION. I whole-heartedly agree. When they opened up the phones for questions, I couldn't resist calling in and showing my support. On my first try, I got in! I expressed my total agreement and related my own story.

When a boyfriend of mine broke up with me in early February (a couple of years ago) I got a nice little stab at him that Valentine's Day. That year I made up Valentine's Day cards for nearly everyone I knew. At the club where we all hung out, I made a HUGE production of giving out the cards as well as "Hugs and Kisses" (candy). I watched my ex standing by waiting for his turn. When I came across the card intended for him, I casually crumpled it up and stuffed it into my purse and announced that I was finished delivering Valentines. It really did my broken heart good to see the hurt look on his face when he realized he'd been left out.

I guess my brief re-cap of that episode really illustrated the principle behind Ms.James' book because, I ended being the only caller put on the air. Not only was I on the air during the entire final segment of her interview, but also, the radio station is giving be a copy of her book. How cool is that?!

I'm not advocating taking a baseball bat to his car or throwing a brick through his window, but I'm all for harmless, though mildly humiliating, acts. Throwing darts at said ex's picture can be highly therapeutic. Taping a picture of your ex to the bottom of your shoe, then "walking" on him/her all day, can add a spring to your step (so I'm told...I haven't tried this one...yet). The point is to take an active role in dealing with those feelings of anger rather than bottling them up. Finding little ways to release your anger can be equivocated to gradually releasing the steam from a pressure cooker. By slowing letting it go a little at a time, you greatly reduce the chance of injury to yourself and/or others.


I'm still working on the re-cap of this past weekend. There was/is some really HEAVY stuff going on that I'm still trying to deal with. Also, stay tuned for a STALKER STATUS REPORT!