Friday, June 27, 2008

Introducing...

Iteleport Apple's newest product...

although this is (currently) fictional, people were talking about it on TV last night. It got me thinking.... If had one, would I use it? Would I go back in time and change anything?

I would go back to that night in early June, 2003. I would forget that my heart had just been broken and pay a little more attention to the one who did it. I didn't know then, but my actions that night hurt you and hurt 'us'. I would be sober all night. I wouldn't let the words and boyish charm of another sweep me off my feet with many, many unfulfilled and empty promises. I wouldn't be so selfish... But I also would have missed out on a lot of lessons. Some necessary, others, not so much.

My life would certainly be different now if I could change that night, but what would that make me?

Thursday, June 26, 2008

Ooooh oooh witchy woman

Thought for the day:

Why did we stop eating bugles? Is it b/c they no longer fit on my fat fingers as finger nails? They are a tasty treat.


This was Jennifer's thought, but it made me laugh so hard when the question was asked that i had to share!

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

My apartment is infested with koala bears


A small tribute to Mitch Hedberg 1968-2005, I sure did love that guy. And he loved our presents...

*I'm not making a banana bread, pastrami, cottage cheese sandwich. That would severely ruin my reputation!
*I got an ant farm...them fellas didn't grow shit.
*I hope the next time I move I get a real easy phone number, something that's real easy to remember. Something like two two two two two two two two. I would say "Sweet." And then people would say, "Mitch, how do I get a hold of you?" I'd say, "Just press two for a while. And when I answer, you will know you have pressed two enough."
*My roommate said to me, 'I'm gonna go shave and use the shower, does anyone need to use the bathroom?' It's like some weird ass quiz where he reveals the answer first.
*My friend asked me if I wanted a frozen banana, I said "no, but I want a regular banana later, so ... yeah".
*Last week I helped my friend stay put. It's a lot easier'n helpin' 'em move. I just went over to his house and made sure that he did not start to load shit into a truck.
*Whenever I go to shave, I assume there's someone else on the planet shaving, so I say, "I'm gonna go shave, too."
*On a stop light green means go and yellow means slow down, but on a banana it's just the opposite. Green means hold on, yellow means go ahead, and red means, 'where the fuck did you get that banana at?'
*I never joined the army because "at ease" never seemed that easy to me. It seemed rather uptight, still. I do not relax by putting my arms behind my back and parting my legs slightly, that does not equal ease to me. At ease is not being in the military. I'm eased bro, cause I'm not in the military.
*When you buy a box of Ritz crackers, on the back of the box, they have all these suggestions as to what to put on top of the Ritz. "Try it with turkey and cheese. Try it with peanut butter." But I like crackers man, that's why I bought it, 'cause I like crackers! I don't see a suggestion to put a Ritz on top of a Ritz. I didn't buy them because they're little edible plates! You've got no faith in the product itself.
*I'm against picketing, but I don't know how to show it.
*I was walking down the street with my friend and he said, "I hear music", as if there is any other way you can take it in. You're not special, that's how I receive it too. I tried to taste it but it did not work.
*I haven't slept for ten days, because that would be too long.
*I think Bigfoot is blurry, that's the problem. It's not the photographer's fault. Bigfoot is blurry, and that's extra scary to me. There's a large out of focus monster roaming the countryside. Look out, he's fuzzy, let's get out of here.
*This shirt is "dry-clean only"...which means it's dirty.
*My lucky number is four billion. That doesn't come in real handy when you're gambling. "Come on four billion! Fuck! Seven. Not even close. I need some more dice. Four billion divided by six, at least."
*I saw some two-dollar bills, today. They were for sale for eight dollars. Something went severely wrong there. What happened? It spun out of control. Now it's worth eight, still says "two".
*One time, this guy handed me a picture of him, he said,"Here's a picture of me when I was younger." Every picture of you is when you were younger. "Here's a picture of me when I'm older." "You son-of-a-bitch! How'd you pull that off? Lemme see that camera!"
*If you boat a lot you are known as a boating enthusiast. I like to boat, but I just don't ever want to be referred to as a boating enthusiast. I hope they call me a guy that likes to boat.
*Sometimes I wave to people I don't know. It's very dangerous to wave to someone you don't know because what if they don't have a hand? They'll think you're cocky. "Look what I got motherfucker! This thing is useful. I'm gonna go pick something up!"
*If carrots got you drunk, rabbits would be fucked up.
*I wrote a script and gave it to a guy that reads scripts. And he read it and said he really likes it, but he thinks I need to rewrite it. I said, "Fuck that, I'll just make a copy."
*My apartment is infested with koala bears. Its the cutest infestation ever. Much better than cockroaches.
*I like vending machines 'cuz snacks are better when they fall. If I buy a candy bar at a store, oftentimes, I will drop it so that it achieves it's maximum flavor potential.
*I drank some boiling water 'cuz I wanted to whistle
*Fish are always eating other fish. If fish could scream, the ocean would be loud as shit. You would not want to submerge your head, nothing but fish going "Ahhh, fuck! I thought I looked like that rock!"

*I can't tell you what hotel I'm stayin' in, but I can say that there are two trees involved. They said, "Let's call this hotel "Something...Tree", so they had a meeting; it was very short. "How 'bout Tree?" "No, Double Tree." "Hell yeah! Meeting adjourned!" I had my heart set on "Quadruple Tree"... damnit, we were almost there!

*I want to hang a map of the world in my house then I’m gonna put pins into all the locations that I’ve travelled to. But first I’m gonna have to travel to the top two corners of the map so it won’t fall down

*If you find yourself lost in the woods, fuck it!, build a house. Well, I was lost but now I live here. I have severely improved my predicament.

*I order the club sandwich all the time, but I'm not even a member, man. I don't know how I get away with it

*...went to a pizzeria, I ordered a slice of pizza, the fucker gave me the smallest slice possible. If the pizza was a pie chart for what people would do if they found a million dollars, the fucker gave me the "donate it to charity" slice. I would like to exchange this for the "keep it!"

*I saw this wino, he was eating grapes. I was like, "Dude, you have to wait."

*I ordered a chicken sandwich but I think the waitress mis-understood me because she said, "How would you like your eggs?" So I tried to answer her anyhow. I said "Incubated, and then raised, and then beheaded, and then plucked and then cut up then put onto a grill then put onto a bun. Shit, it's gonna take awhile. I don't have time, scrambled!"
**Visit Mitch's website for more on Mitch and to purchase CDs, DVDs, and funny funny T-shirts.**



Tuesday, June 24, 2008

"Lick the stamp, turn on"


Hippies believe(d) that the pursuit of money interferred with a fufulling life.

The summer of love - San Francisco, CA 1967 - There were many things wrong with America at this time, and the hippies, the counter culture, were there to show America that you didn't need money, a job, a home or anything else "the man" said you were supposed to have. As a sub-culture, the hippies of 1967 created their own declaration of independence; their creation endows us with certain inalienable rights and among these are "freedom of body, the pursuit of joy and the expansion of consciousness." Unfortunately, many of the ideals from that time are no longer ideal. The hippies of 1967 thought they could change the world, and make it a better place. In some ways, they succeeded...
The following is an excerpt from The Oracle, a prevalent hippie magazine from San Francisco:

"We are all -- squares and the psychedelically enlightened alike -- involved in our world of now. To take up the call, to respond to the cosmic forces, we must be the hard-working, harmonious, respectful, honest, diligent, co-operative family of man. Our words are inspired. Our feeling is deep and complete. Our devotion is strong. The precious revelations which have come through us with increasing magnitude must be fathomed until we are one with each other and can extend our awareness beyond the tribe to our entire planet.
What is the natural karmic duty of a generation whose brothers, neighbors, and childhood friends now promote hate by killing innocent human beings around the world? It is to balance their jive and immature actions with the light of intelligent goodness; fearlessly to deal with the money-mad machine in order to release its hold on our bowels -- the bowels of mankind.
Practically, this means that all excess profit is turned back into the community. That means all money, material things, food, etc., which are beyond the basic necessities of a happy, healthy, human existence..."
Life is a viscious cycle and this time is upon us again. We are in the midst of our generation's Veitnam, so I ask, What is our natural karmic duty? Take up the call. Lick the stamp, turn on.

Monday, June 23, 2008

η ευτυχία είναι ελεύθερη

Happiness is Free... take this time, this opportunity to do what truly makes you happy. Life is happening all around you, make yours count.

Unfortunately, this is a lot easier said than done... what makes me happy? I have an inate need to help people. Currently, not one thing I do in a day helps someone in a valuable way. Sure, sometimes I can explain someone's insurance payment to them or review someone's hearing test....that's not happiness.

Happiness to me is being a part of something; something that makes a difference; something with a purpose...

Today think about what truly makes you happy and set out to do it.

Sunday, June 22, 2008

Welcome to Mississippi

I just witnessed a grown woman buying a CASE of Natty Light at the grocery store....

I, an obvious connaisseur of beer, have not even seen anyone drinking this outside of college - and those that did it then were either too young or too broke to know what they were drinking.

If I'm going to waste my time and my calories on beer, it's not going to be Natty Light....

Thursday, June 19, 2008

...waiting...

Qualities I really dislike about myself are my impatience and fear of the unknown. When something is in limbo, I cannot stand it! There are quite a few variables in my life right now that can and will completely change everything, but what can I do? WAIT!

If I am supposed to be in Memphis then I should stay. But there's the "job thing", plus I'm supposed to start school in the Fall (getting a BSN). I've been admitted, but apparently they still haven't completed my transfer eval! I'm probably about to have to move (in town), but I don't know. And if I do have to move, I don't know if it will be immediately or in August when Landon's lease is up. I'd much rather just live by myself...but even more than that, I'd rather not live in Memphis...

I think that I've gotten everything out of this city that I can and it's time to move on.

My most perfect and ideal job is in Shreveport. It's not the one I initially applied for, but this one is far better and is the one they wanted to talk to me about...BUT I probably won't know anything about it until at least August - did I mention I hate waiting?

Then there is home. Everyone has a different definition of home, but for me, at this time in my life, home is being where my friends and family are. Home is Birmingham. I need to be there. At least for a minute.

So what to do? Nothing. All I can do is wait. And I despise waiting! In a perfect world everything would just fall into place - today. Even if the actions wouldn't take place for a month or 2 (or longer) at least I would know, I could stop worrying, and get on with life.

I should stop waiting. waiting for my (new) life to begin and just start living - because like it or not, this is life. I just wish that it was a little more cut and dry...

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Lesson for Today

Adding a little rum to a smoothie never hurt anyone...

Saturday, June 14, 2008

Girl's Day Out

Yesterday (for Birthday part II) Kaiya, my 6 year old cousin, and I planned a girls day! It was so much fun! We went and got her a haircut, then we both got manis and pedis. After that, we picked up Nana (my aunt) and Landon (her brother) and went to the mall. We were supposed to see a movie there, but the one we wanted to see wasn't playing. :-( All in all it was a great day!



Thursday, June 12, 2008

Happy Birthday to ME

So today is my birthday... I'm 28. For a minute no one believed me (compliment?), in fact I heard someone say (seriously?) that I was 19...wow! To be 19 again.... I digress.

I was certain that this birthday was going to be kind of sucky because my plans to go home were nixed - damn $4.00 gas! Plus my aunt was going out of town with my mom so that was one less person to celebrate with me, well it turns out that she didn't go - sadly I don't get Panera when she comes back, but that's really the only downfall.
When I got to work this morning, my office door was decorated, the wall had a sign, and there was CAKE and a present for me!! It was such a wonderful surprise! And I can't forget the birthday SHOT - literal shot [(B-12) it's good for you], of course, not the shot I was looking for...I really appreciate everyone (especially Tammy and Joy) for making me feel so special today!

I have gotten emails, texts, and Facebook and Myspace messages throughout the day which have made the day even better! I just want to thank my friends for being here for me and making this day so special!

UPDATE: I walked into my office around 2:15 or so and I had this beautiful flower arrangement and birthday balloon sitting on my desk! My bestest friend in the whole wide world sent me flowers!! **I don't know if you know how much that means to me, but Jennifer!!! Thanks lady, I love you! And the card - you're right.... IT'S ALL ABOUT ME.
When I got home, the kids had a surprise for me... a strawberry cake! They were so proud!! The last picture is of Kaiya and Landon posing with their (my) cake!

Thanks!! (or rather Thank,s)

Older and Wiser - Amanda










Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Tenderness and Curiosity

I received an email this morning from a woman who recently attended a workshop led by Tobi Fishel, Ph.D., called Women's Grace and Beauty:

...Following introductions there was one request made of each participant: bring only tenderness and curiosity into the day's experiences. Sounded simple enough but quickly the chatter of self-talk inside my head suggested otherwise. When I started paying attention to the mental noise (...work, family, shopping lists, errands I needed to run and those I'd forgotten about...) there was very little tenderness and curiosity to be found. I realized the thoughts inside my head resembled something of a mental boxing ring. With the introduction of gentleness and intrigue, I felt a shift in energy, both internal and external...

Today my 'mental noise' is very loud... I've got a lot going on, a lot of unanswered questions, and my tomorrow is my birthday - I'm still trying to deal with that... I am going to try to respond to this noise with tenderness and curiosity (those unanswered questions in particular). I know the task at hand is a hard one, especially with the day to day of work, family, and everything that goes along with it, but it is something that I can do - this I am sure.

[To whom it may concern: get your shit together and when you figure out what you want, please, by all means, let me know. I know what I want, now it's your turn] real tender, right? at least i'm curious...

With that being said...today, pay attention to your own mental noise and respond only with tenderness and curiosity.

Sunday, June 8, 2008

Weekend Schmeekend



I've done a lot of reminiscent movie watching this weekend and was lucky enough to watch two of my favorite movies!
The First, Chasing Amy - a Kevin Smith classic. I can quote the whole movie, yet it never gets old.



I just finished watching A Lot Like Love with Amanda Peet and Ashton Kutcher. I love this movie. I can't even explain why! I am quite jaded and cynical and know that the chances of this happening in real life are slim to none, but this movie makes me cry EVERY TIME I watch it.

Not too sure what's next on the list, but I HIGHLY recommend adding both of these movies to your collection!

Friday, June 6, 2008

Got Something?

Get Your Something

Want something? Anything? I stumbled upon this interesting site yesterday and thought I should share...SomethingStore - Surprise Yourself!

Place an order with the something store - everything costs $10 (no shipping); then in 7-10 days you'll get something! That's the best (or worst) part... you don't know what that something will be!

On their website they do show a variety of items they shipped that week and to which state - some of the items are worth much more than the $10 you give them, and of course, some are worth much less. It's a gamble. Are you willing to take it?

A good friend and I used to mail each other care packages nearly weekly after college, just a note and some nick nacks that made us think of one another, unfortunately as time passed, so did this tradition.... I think we're about to start back up again... she just doesn't know it yet. :-)

Thursday, June 5, 2008

What's your personal motto?

A question asked yesterday by my little 5 year old cousin...
He (Landon) turned to his sister and said, "Kaiya, what's your personal motto?"

Kaiya answered, "If you can't do something right the first time, you gotta keep trying!"

He turned to my aunt, "Nana, what's your personal motto?"

"If you want something done right, do it yourself," she replied.

Then he asked me, I told him that my personal motto is Happiness is Free (something I'm sure I'll delve into later).

So then I asked, "Landon, what is your personal motto?" His reply was so classic -

"DANG!"

Wednesday, June 4, 2008

Sweet Home Alabama?

As much as I like Memphis and everything it has done for me, there are some things that just can't beat HOME. Technically my home is Birmingham and I can't wait to get back there - but any move closer to the Magic City has got to be better than the 3.5 hours I have to drive now... A friend called me a few weeks ago to make sure she could give my contact information to someone in Montgomery about a job... Of course I said "YES" without hesitiation. (you see, this is a job I "interviewed" for back in October and would LOVE to have...even with all the major responsibility that comes with it)

It turns out that the Montgomery CoC (Continuum of Care) is thinking about making the switch to the same web-based HMIS system that the rest of the State of Alabama uses. Not only do the other CoCs use the same system, but they have formed PromisAL, which essentially allows each Continuua to talk. Not to toot my own horn, but when I was in Birmingham, I worked on this system and was also integral in forming PromisAL by helping to write the SOPs and Policies & Procedures for the State (and our CoC in Birmingham).

If Montgomery makes the switch, they want me, yes ME, to head their HMIS! This all depends on whether or not the agencies want to make the switch to the new system, which will be like pulling teeth regardless, and even more importantly, it depends on if they can afford me. Meaning do they have any money to pay me... Unfortunately living ain't easy or cheap. Apparently they won't be making a final decision until the end of the month, but today I found out that most of the agencies think that switching to ServicePoint would be a good idea.

Now there's just that matter of money...

Tuesday, June 3, 2008

Everybody's got a Mountain to Climb

While driving in to work this morning, the Allman Brothers', Everybody's Got a Mountain to Climb began to play, it really got me thinking...

I have realized that there are many uphill battles in life, and no matter how bad I think I may have it, or if I think the world is against me, because (god forbid) things don't go my way, I know that everyone is going through their own struggles and hardships...

I moved to Memphis with little more than a suitcase in hand just over six months ago. This story could have gone one of two ways...Luckily, for me, I have a wonderful support system in my family. They took me in, fed me, gave me a place to sleep, and waited on me to find a job.



This was not the "norm" for me. Prior to Memphis, I have been living on my own, or with a "significant other" for the past 10 years. I made a nice little life for myself. I had all of the material things that I no longer have - a bed (that I own), furniture, a tv, a computer, I even had quite a few nice things - and a kitchen that I could cook a mean meal in... let me tell you! Before this turns into a pity party story, I lost all of those things... through very little fault of my own (although my ex-husband my disagree), but what I gained in return is irreplaceable! I have been able to regain friendships that I had lost or that were strained, and I got my family back. I have also regained my self respect and confidence (or at least some of it).

In Birmingham, I worked as an HMIS (Homeless Management Information System) system administrator, this job afforded me many chances to interact with the homeless men and women of Birmingham, to hear their stories and to share in their joys as well as their pain. Although I have a huge uphill battle to regain my security (in more ways than one), remembering my time in Birmingham helps me keep my woes in perspective.


Everybody's Got A Mountain to Climb by The Allman Brothers Band



This road we travel gets a little tough sometimes,
Sometimes I know you feel like you cant go on,
Need somebody help you get back home,
Need a friend to help you find your way home.
Reverend pearly brown say theres peace out on the water at night,
Big sun going down, lord its a pretty sight,
Red and blue across the water makes a wonderful song,
Listen to it all night long.


Everybodys got a mountain to climb,
Dont be discouraged when the sun dont shine,
Gotta keep on pulling, you gotta keep on tryin,
Everybodys got a mountain to climb,
Everybodys got a mountain to climb.

Who'd cross the face of a little smilin child?
Take away the losers one last chance?
Who wouldnt linger down by the old river for a while?
You know the whole world loves you when youre dancin.
So, hey let me tell you what Im talkin about,
You cant go around with your lip stuck out.
Life aint all good but it sure aint bad,
Anyway its the best old life I ever had.

Everybodys got a mountain to climb,
Dont be discouraged when the sun dont shine,
Gotta keep on pulling, you gotta keep on tryin,
Everybodys got a mountain to climb.
Everybodys got a mountain to climb,
Dont be discouraged when the sun dont shine,
Gotta keep on pulling, you gotta keep on tryin,
Everybodys got a mountain to climb.


**and THIS is what makes it all worth it**

Monday, June 2, 2008

The water's just fine

"No person ever steps in the same river twice, for it's not the same river and she's not the same person." - Heraclitus
Think about it: If you dip your toe into the river and remove it and then immediately dip your toe back into the water, you are now experiencing a different stream. Like the river, we too are alive and constantly in the process of change. None of us is the same person we were yesterday; we're not even the same person we were an hour ago.

Today, in this moment, embrace the reality that you and everything around you is in a constant state of flux - everything is always in the process of change. Realize the possibility and freedom that the constancy of change offers you. None of us is without hope. None of us knows enough to be a pessimist. Every bad moment will soon pass. And every good moment must be celebrated and cherished in the moment, for it too will soon pass, opening a fresh opportunity in which to dip your toe. Again, I borrowed this from someone much more insightful than myself, but it is true and really spoke to me. Everything around me is changing and I am in a constant state of limbo. This may be why I have had a pretty sorry week (or at least partly to blame). It's been pretty bad for those around me, I've tried (kind of hard) not to let my mood effect them. For the most part, I think it has worked, but really, I've just laid low and kept to myself. Not to go on and on - but the lesson is, I know that this will pass and something better will come along - it always does. That's life. The hard part is just sticking it out until things turn your way.

Sunday, June 1, 2008

Limited Perspective?

I'm not going to lie - I have plagerized every word of what you are about to read, I get weekly emails from EDCT and this week I really took what they said to heart...

Contemplating a new way of thinking or seeing is tricky. A fascinating story that demonstrates this is that of Christopher Columbus sailing to the Americas. Because the never before seen ships were unfamiliar to the indigenous people, they could not see the ships on the horizon. It is hard to believe that we, too, could miss that which is right before our eyes. What are we closed off to simply because we've already made up our minds, have limited perspective, or lack all the information necessary to be aware of them?

Today, open yourself up to seeing all the possibilities