July 4, 2008 At Belle Harbor

As it turns out I was in Belle Habor for the 4th of July, which is a very upscale part of Far Rockaway. I really had no idea where I was going. I just thought Rockaway is Rockaway, I didn't know Belle Harbor was part of that area. This is the neighborhood where this happened two months and one day after the 9/11 tragedy. And that was only a few blocks from the house I was visiting that day.

I was invited to spend the day with my friend Jae and her family and go to the beach. But the weather was so crummy I decided to stay home most of the day and to go visit her and her family in the late afternoon. That way I wasn't on top of these people that really don't know me and I don't wear out my welcome.

Because this community does not allow street parking on holidays and weekends I had to take the bus. This turned out to be quite pleasant and easy. I have a bus stop right outside my building and the transfer to the second bus is only about 10 minutes down the road from my initial starting point. I just stayed on that second bus until the last stop. The entire trip took about an hour. I met a very funny old lady on the bus who chatted me up.

This old white haired lady with lots of chin hair that would not tell me her age started asking me a lot of questions. "Where was I going?" I told her to my friend's house on the beach in the Rockaways. "OH. What town?" I answered her that I didn't know, just he Rockaways. Honest to g-d I didn't know there were more than one there. She gave me one of those funny looks. Hmmm.

I offered her some of my Utz pretzels and she politely declined and told me how she gets a huge bag of them at Waldbaums for half price and goes through them in two days. Later with my friend her family I learned as they brought up the topic of Utz pretzels, not me mind you, that apparently you can only get them in the northeast and it's a Pennsylvania Dutch Country thing really. Since I never really lived outside of the Northeast I didn't know this. So I didn't know why getting them was such a special thing to this woman or the fact that she knew of this place to get them at such a great deal. But boy was she excited. I think she was a bit deflated that I didn't share in her excitement at the moment. Sorry nice old lady, I didn't know it was something special at the time.

So she goes on to ask me if my friend is going to supply dinner and how late will I be there.

I say, "UMM...I dunno, never thought about it. I suppose so as it is the 4th of July."

Old Lady, "Well it's good you have your pretzels because it just might be your dinner. Did you bring a jacket?"

Me, "No."

Puzzled look from old lady with slight brow raise as if to say this girl is young and dumb.

Old Lady, "You know it gets cold on the beach at night."

Me,"It's 90 degrees now how much could the temperature drop. I'll be fine. I have been taking care of myself a long time."

Old Lady, " I have lived in NYC longer than you are probably alive!"

I smile and say, "Wow you've been in NY for more than 40 years huh?"

Quizzical look, onced over. Silence. Silence. Then, "Yes I have," With a big smile remembering that she had to actually answer me.

She kept mentioning that when she was really young like me, blah blah blah. So I finally said to her, "How old do you think I am?" She didn't want to answer. So I said to her, "How old are you?"

Old Lady, "I AM NOT GOING TO TELL YOU!"

I reply, " Well I am middle-aged." And she tells me there is no way that I am.

When first getting on the bus at the transfer point, the bus was packed tightly with people. By this point it was pretty empty and I had just noticed as we had been yapping it up for so long I wasn't paying attention to the rest of the people.

I said to her, "Wow look at this. There were so many people and now nothing!"

Old Lady says sarcastically,"I don't think the people on the bus would appreciate being referred to as nobody."

I just burst out laughing and so she had to as well. I said, "Lady you are so damn literal!"

There were other funny moment with her but well let's move on to the photos below.

I was waiting for my bus tranfer and saw this fire in the direction I knew my bus had to take.

Here's a little bit from the bus ride crossing the first bridge.

Here's the view from the backyard of Jae's house.

The lifeguards on the beach all in orange.
I love this picture of Jae. She is adorable in her pink shoes.

On the way to the fireworks on the other side of Belle Harbor from the beach, we passed this cop car that had pulled over some young kids driving.
This is the view of Howard Beach from where we were standing. It was to the right of us. you could also see lower Manhattan and Brooklyn from this location but of course it was dark.
I found this on my neighbor's door when I came home.

You Suck And YOU Know Who YOU Are!

This is just one of the reasons I hate corporate America. And one of the reasons why I am so glad I found what I love to do and I am doing everything I can think of to do so that I can launch/build my own private practice and hope that I can sooner rather than later get it to a fully financially thriving and stable practice that covers every expense I have plus some.

And before you start telling me how great it is in Canada let me just tell you that it isn't so rosy up there either. I have met with and emailed with more than a handful of Canadian women with stories that would make you cry.

In the U.S. the people in control are the insurance companies. In Canada it is a governmental system. Power is power and the mindset is the same. The only difference are the group of idiots denying life-saving treatments or benefits. Shit is shit!

I have a sick mother. Thank goodness she has insurance and has been able to get her treatments for the last 10 years. So don't think I don't realize that it works well too.

The problem is that in THIS case there isn't room for a fuck up! Sorry but there really is no other word for it. When it comes to healthcare it is often life or death. So it isn't ok when there are stories like this even if they are the few rather than the majority. It's just not!

SICKENING! JUST SICKENING!

My Day At Governors Island

Immediately coming out of the train I was met with this site.
They wanted me to pay to take a photo with them. I think NOT! Do I really look like a tourist?

Here is one of those horrid fake waterfalls that cost the tax payers way too much to make.

Here's the group I came to support and help. I am not in the photo of course but this is the energy work I do as well.

Just some guy taking a photo and not paying me any attention. :-)

I'd Rather They Didn't Sell Them In 12 Packs

This idea comes from the above logo. You can click on the logo and be sent to the land of Kidzarama for some fabulous fun creative posts. She lives in the land down under with her Wonder Hubby and two kids, Wren and Bump.

So I am pondering the title of the post which comes from her idea. Truly the only thing that comes to mind are condoms.

Too intimidating. Usually when something is sold in that amount of quantity they label them family packs.

In this case they ought to call them No More Family Pack.

Think about it! I am single, not dating and well 12 is such a big number to achieve and puts way too much pressure on this woman. Right now I'd settle for a nice bloke who treats me well, with respect and loving kindness, and we buy them in 3packs for a while until I feel confident that we can make it to 12!

Happy Independence Day!

It's the 4th of July, The United States of America's Independence Day!

I'll be at Rockaway Beach with some friends today. Woohoo! I'll be enjoying the fun and the sun.

Lately my posts have been very fluffy. It's not because I don't have anything to say so much as I am working on my own FINANCIAL INDEPENDENCE. I am working hard to launch and build my business and working with some other women to create a stronger company and temping at the same time.

I'm tired. A LOT!

So while Malcolm comes lurking here a lot waiting for my post on race it's not been here for him to read. I'd like to think that he is enjoying the lighter posts and at some point would partake in their spirit and comment on those too. It's good to get out of our heads and learn the feelings and fun of sillier, lighter moments and blog posts. They have just as much value as the long thought out deep ones.

But don't fret they'll be back. When I am not sure but they will. There's too much stirring up there for it to not land on this blog.

In the meantime I hope you all enjoy your July 4th, the fireworks and the true spirit of the day.

Wordless Wednesday

Cool Day At Governor's Island

I have lived in NYC for 17 years. Take that to all you people who said I had no stayin' power!

But until yesterday I never ventured out to Governor's Island. About five years ago it became a National Park and open to the public. Yesterday while the Gay Pride Parade was going on in Greenwich Village, an organization called Figment ran an all day event for artists and healthcare workers. I participated with a holistic healthcare group and had a blast with my friends Jae and Sarah. When we were done we ventured around to see the performers.

Here are some video snippets of the kinds of "alternative" events that were available yesterday:



This is a dance troop that does planetary drumming dances. I wanted to partake but didn't have the nerve. Some day I'll stop caring what others might say and just be free and jump in too.

The next one is of a little girl who I found while we made our way back to the ferry to leave the island. She was a bit tired and couldn't get her gear on properly but she gave it the old college try.




I have one more interesting video to show you but I'll save it for tomorrow. ;-)

My Absolute Blog Reads

With no disrespect to the other blogs I do visit each week I wanted to feature the ones I must read each day no matter how tired I am. It would be a very very boring day if I didn't have

Carrie's Blog where you are sure to piss in your pants while reading. WITTY INTERESTING AND WOWING!
Drowsey's Blog where you will always get a bit of an edge, and a super witty reply to your comments.
Jessica's Blog where you will get such an ecclectic view of the world it is refreshing
or
Gypsy's Blog where you get very raw openness into one women's life.

Especially when I am feeling my utmost boring I know that when I visit those blogs I am going to be laughing my ass off or reading something very profound. If you haven't found these women's blogs yet, you are really missing something terrific.

I hope I can start writing more interesting posts soon. Life has been undramatic for me lately. Not hoping for any drama to write about any time soon, but some fun thoughts and stories I certainly am hoping will pop into my head.

For the moment I have a very itty bitty crawling on my shoulder and jumping onto my computer desk that I MUST go play with. :-)

UPDATE ON MY BRAIN FART

I totally forgot to list Lee's Blog. Lee is another new daily must read. She's so on the ball and just darn kind. Please don't have a brain fart like me and miss her blog!

What Your Doctor Is Really Saying

I saw Dr. Oz saying this on Oprah a few months ago and after an email exchange with someone I really like and respect, I decided to search for it in writing.

As I tend to be too darn direct sometimes, muddying up the message I am aiming for, making the focus on my directness and the possibly bruised feelings it may inadvertedly create, I thought posting this well-respected doctor's words would be best.

‘Several options’ may mean you're stuck with no winning choice
By Heather Hurlo
Best Life
updated 7:37 a.m. ET, Wed., June. 11, 2008

The Institute of Medicine did a study and found that 90 million Americans don't understand what their doctors are telling them. So we asked Mehmet Oz, MD, professor and vice chairman of surgery at New York–Presbyterian/Columbia University and author of "You: Staying Young," for some help deciphering the common phrases doctors use in the examination room.

1. If your doctor says: "You might want to consider taking a stress test."
What he means is: "You might be a ticking time bomb."
Your response should be: "Is this routine or is something in my profile worrying you?" A stress test is a risk stratification test. "It answers the question, 'When you're pushed as hard as you can be pushed, are you a ticking time bomb?' " says Dr. Oz. Your ability to exercise is the best predictor of how well you're aging.

2. If your doctor says: "You could stand to lose a little weight."
What he means is: "If you don't lose that gut, you'll end up with diabetes."
Your response should be: "Do I have high blood pressure, prediabetes, or high cholesterol?" For all three conditions, the first line of defense is weight loss. "Don't wait for your doctor to tell you to lose weight," says Dr. Oz. Measure yourself around your waist at belly-button level. If the number is more than half your height, you're overweight.

3. If your doctor says: "We have several options."
What he means is: "We have no good options."
Your response should be: "What are the problems with each option?" If your doctor had a perfect option, he wouldn't offer the others, says Dr. Oz.

4. If your doctor says: "I would like to run some more tests."
What he means is: "I'm stalling for time because I have no idea what's wrong with you."
Your response should be: "What diagnosis are you looking for with these tests?" Like everybody else, physicians go through illogical moments. Your job is to catch them. "Your doctor should be able to give you a flowchart explaining where each test result will lead him next," says Dr. Oz. If the logic flow of the tests doesn't make sense to you, tell him so.

5. If your doctor says: "If it doesn't clear up in a week, come back in."
What he means is: "I'm giving you a placebo. It might work or it might not."
Your response should be: "What are the worst-case scenarios?" If a doctor is interested in seeing you in a week, he's triaging problems. "Plus," says Dr. Oz, "it gives him a chance to experiment, since no one therapy works on everyone."

6. What your doctor will rarely say: "You need a second opinion."
What you should be thinking: "Second opinions change a diagnosis and treatment a third of the time. Why isn't he recommending one?"

Your response should be: "If I went to another high-quality doctor like you, what's another legitimate approach he could offer me?" Any good physician should be able to offer you a plan B, says Dr. Oz.

Go Check Out This Fantastic Story

Here's an inspiring story that everyone should read.

Carrie's Friday Foto Finish Fiesta

Don't forget to visit Carries blog today for the Friday Foto Finish Fiesta. You know she rocks.

Things That Make You Go Hmmm

Five Dating Phone Rules

I saw this on Yahoo tonight. It's one of the first dating stories they have run that I can actually agree with and feel was written smartly.

I know I have made many a faux paux in this area. I tend to be someone who returns calls within a very reasonable amount of time regardless of whether or not that person got back to me quickly. I have always felt that is is just rude to leave someone hanging and so I never thought about the fact that the other person took their sweet old time or not. I never thought about how my quickness would be received because I knew what my intent was and that I was not and am not desperate. But over the past few months of reading I realize how I was perceived exactly how I would not want to be simply out of the desire to just be considerate...you know thinking that I was living by the golden rule of "do unto others".

My niceness has been perceived as a weakness, or desperation. So I do realize now that I need to analyze the other person's moves a bit like a chess game and choose my move based upon the person I am playing.

Do I really want to call back some guy who took five days to decide to call me? Or even, do I really want to call someone that it took me five days to decide to call?

So well in the meantime, I am not actively dating. I am spending my time learning about activities that I like and people that I enjoy spending those times with. I figure that when the time does come that I do meet someone I would even care to date, I will be so busy with my activities and friends that I won't have time to think about caring if some guys does call me back or not. :-)

So here's the yahoo story:

Here are five phone rules that everyone should following when dating:

1: Be Prompt When They're Prompt. If you give out your phone number and a date calls you within 24 hours, then you should call this date back within 24 hours. There should be none of this "waiting four or five days to call" business.
When your date has called you within 24 hours, that's called momentum.
When your date has called you within 24 hours, that's called momentum. It's called momentum for a reason, and so many people in dating lose that momentum very quickly by not promptly returning phone calls. Even if you're busy, call your date back promptly to let your date know that you're busy and tell your date you will connect with him/her in a few days when your schedule settles down; Waiting four or five days to return a phone message to me is simply rude. You would never do this in your business life, yet that is what so many people do in their dating life.

2: If They Waited, You May Also Wait. You've given your phone number to a date, and that date waits four or five days to call you. As far as I'm concerned, when that happens you are entitled to wait four or five days to return that person's call. That person did not make you a priority, and he/she played games. Although the person decided to call you, what he/she was likely actually doing during those four or five days was debating whether he/she wanted to call you. This shows lack of interest. I know that when I get a woman's phone number and wait four or five days to call her, that I'm really not that interested in her and I really don't care whether or not she calls me back.

3: It's OK to Call Right Back. If a date calls you promptly after you've given him/her your phone number, then you should call this date back within 24 hours -- but it is even perfectly fine to call him/her back the same night your date called you. It doesn't look desperate. It looks like you actually have manners, that you're someone who pays attention to detail, and that you're someone who respects other people's time. Think about this for a second. When a date calls you, he/she is taking time out of their day to talk to you. So it's not only "OK," but really simple courtesy, to acknowledge this with a promptly returned phone call. This is something we do in business every day without ever thinking twice about it, but we don't do this in our dating life because we conduct it with emotionally based decisions.

4: You Can't Manipulate Your Date Into Liking You. So many people think there needs to be some "strategy" in making the decision when to return phone calls. They'll think things like, "Oh, let me think when I should call my date back. Should I wait four or five days so I'll seem busy and not too available? If I call back today will I seem desperate? It doesn't work that way! This is simply a matter of courtesy and being a mature adult. If a client calls me and leaves me a message about wanting me to coach him/her, I will call the client back as quickly as possible not because I'm desperate for business but because I respect the fact that the client took the time to contact me. Playing games and trying to make your date think certain things about you (like that you're busy or not desperate) by waiting to return a phone call will not make your date more interested in you than he/she would otherwise be. All you will accomplish by doing this is make your date think you're rude and uninterested.

5: Being Busy Is No Excuse. So many of us are busy being busy. As busy people, we get how busy everyone's life can be. Returning a phone call and leaving a voicemail message, though, takes only about 15 to 30 seconds. Returning a call to let a date know that you're busy and will call him/her in a few days takes barely a minute. It's better to return a call promptly and let your date know you're busy and will call him/her in a few days after things settle down (with work, kids, or whatever it might be), then to put the phone call off and to think about it. The longer you wait to call your date back, the less likely your date will still have the same interest in you that your date had in the first place.

These are all tips that you should follow in navigating the phone calls you receive from someone you're newly dating. These tips are equally applicable to men and women. So remember to follow these rules, and when your date calls you -- call your date back!

Semi-Wordless Wednesday

I now understand where the term smarty FART comes from.

KC is 2.5 months old. She understands when I tell her "get down" and "come here". She's pretty darn smart.

Let's just say that it's a good thing you cannot fully understand the second part of smarty FART!

You've Got To Watch Sadie!

This video comes with a disclaimer. I haven't showered in two days and I have no make-up on. It also comes with a warning...anyone making fun of me because of this shall be dealt with severely!

Enjoy Sadie being herself with me!

Race

I've been challenged to write a post about racism. OY VEY! I have been pondering this for many days. Do I really want to go there? This is a topic that I can surely write about but never "win" and end up in a circle of heated comments that never end.

It's so charged with emotions, and emotions run us more than rational thought. When I write this post I am going to take my time and show evidence after evidence after evidence backing up my points.

I am sure that this will inspire those who disagree with me to then list some of their own evidence too. But the devil is NOT in the details in this argument. You will always be able to find me someone somewhere who truly is racist, but that doesn't proove that there is a systemic problem of racism, and that a word some columnist used was therefore a racist remark.

There is an emotional problem in this country, not a racism problem. NOTE: I didn't say there is no racism. Caroline Myss calls this "The Culture of Woundology."

Let me end this teaser post with the following story and thoughts:

One day I was driving with friends to a karaoke event. We had to go through a very rough neighborhood at the initial part of the drive. When coming to a light, I saw some young men and this overwhelming feeling came over me to lock the doors.

We all come into this world with this animal instinct, which is supposed to protect us. But our societies have taught us to ignore that which we cannot see. And since this isn't something you can see and something I can never proove it can be interpreted in any number of ways by the people I am with, the people reading this today. And I cannot stop that from happening.

If the people I am with and the people reading this story choose to determine what my thoughts in my head were at the moment, and conclude that they were not upstanding and without racist intent, what can I do? I know who I am. I own my thoughts and actions. And thinking my intent was out of seeing black men, I needed to lock my doors, only serves the person thinking such things, to be upset, angry, etc...and then the focus stays there, in a negative thought pattern.

I cannot live my life that way and I won't.

That day in that moment, I let my body guide me to feeling that I should lock my doors. If you want to suppose I would not have done that if those young men were white, that is certainly your perogative. But you'd be wrong.

You see you don't know me. You don't know that I walk in the middle of the street at night in my own neighborhood which is mostly white, hispanic and Jewish and has million dollar homes. You don't know that I often cross the street when I get that same feeling I did in the car that day, with the big heavy middle aged white man who I saw walking toward me alone, as I was walking alone too.

I don't always cross the street nor do I always feel I need to lock the doors. But I do sometimes. And it comes from an unexplainable place that I trust.

Think You Can Count On The Media? Think Again!

The Not-So-Lost Tribe
by Mike Krumboltz
June 23, 2008 06:09:40 PM

Even in an age when cynical sleuths can hyper-analyze stories for truth and accuracy, the occasional hoax still slips through the cracks. Such was the case with a so-called "lost Amazon tribe."

A few months ago, mainstream news outlets (including, ahem, Yahoo!) reported that a photographer had found a lost tribe of warriors near the Brazilian-Peruvian border. Photos of the tribe backed up his claim.

As it turns out, the story is only half true. The men in the photo are members of a tribe, but it certainly ain't "lost." In fact, as the photographer, José Carlos Meirelles, recently explained, authorities have known about this particular tribe since 1910.

The photographer and the agency that released the pictures wanted to make it seem like they were members of a lost tribe in order to call attention to the dangers the logging industry may have on the group.

The photographer recently came clean, and news outlets, perhaps embarrassed at having been taken for a ride, have been slow to pick up the story. Now, the word is starting to spread and articles in the Buzz are picking up steam. Expect a lot more brutal truth in the coming days.

George Carlin Didn't Pass Away

"...he expired, had a terminal episode, a negative patient care outcome." -Carlin

I woke up to the sad and shocking news. George Carlin suffered a heart attack and died. 1937-2008. I am stunned.

I will write more posts today, probably with his passing in my mind, but right now I am just stunned into silence.

Click here for a great youtube video they won't allow me to embed.

Below his 7 words routine.

Inspired By Drowsey

OK I am stealing Drowsey's idea and hitting the next blog button to see what I can come up with. Here are some I found that I really like so far.

Amazing gardens and I am jealous.

And they say American's are fat.

Nice photos.

HOLY DEAR MOTHER OF G-D!

My Alter Ego

I started a new blog. If you want to know what I do for a living you'll find out there. All I ask is that you do not post comments on this blog relating to what I do because I don't want it searchable to my personal bitchfest blog...OK?

If you know anyone who might benefit from that blog please let them know about it. Or maybe you'll just find the information useful. I am not sure how much I will update that site. It will take a lot of research to back up my information but I will be building it as I build my business.

Please feel free to send any questions to me about that topic over at that new blog and I will do my best to answer whatever you throw at me. :-)

New Blog of mine.

Grrrrrrrr!

Not sure if it's the heat, that I am broke and don't want to turn on the air, that KC still has bad poops - which is boggling my mind, that Sadie has a problem with her hind leg and I don't know why - but the Vet I rushed her to today (not the regular one because they weren't open this morning and I was very concerned and didn't want to wait to find out when they opened, since it was already 10am) checked her pulses and heart and can't find any reason other than maybe she injured her leg, but her right eye is pussing and the Vet didn't witness this of course, or that I had to clean clean clean and do more cleaning 'cause I invited some friends and my brother and his fiance over for a belated birthday party tomorrow, boy was my apt. disgusting and I thought I was clean, but apparently I am a total disgusting piggo or what...but I feel a little well how shall I put this...bitchy, short, quick?

Dunno. So all I ask is that my blog friends, my loyal blog friends that I have grown to respect and love bear with me a little.

You Know The Economy is Bad When Our Transit Workers Are Biking

That patch on his arm says MTA.

It's Not Only The American Court System That Takes Stupid Lawsuits

Quebec girl takes father to court over class trip

Before you bash American's and their frivioulous lawsuits remember it happens where you live too!

For Carrie's Friday Foto Finish Fiesta

http://www.newsday.com/news/opinion/ny-walt-babyboomers-blurb,0,1036393.blurb

Click on the link and make sure you have the sound on.

Make sure to visit Carrie's blog for other fun foto finish blog posts.

Thursday's Thoughts

More information about one of my passions: Israel.

Were you aware that in Israel Arabs (all non-Jews actually) are full citizens with the full rights to vote and have representation in the Knesset (like our Congress).

During Apartheid, Black Africans were not allowed to vote nor were considered citizens of the very country they were born.

There are restrictions in the West Bank and Gaza (which Israel pulled out of about 2 years ago) that do not exist for those living in Israel proper. This is because those living there call for the complete destruction of the Jewish State of Israel and do not recognize Israel's right to exist. Black Africans never called for the destruction of South Africa only Apartheid.

Israel doesn't grant the Palestinian Arabs full citizenship for many reasons. One big reason is that to do so requires annexing of the West Bank and Gaza. Israel is not prepared to do this, since this was land forceably won in a war of aggression against Israel in 1967.

However, Israel grants full rights for the people living in the West Bank and Gaza to work inside Israel proper, they may attend University and schools inside Israel proper as well.

Before the "peace" deal brokered by then President Clinton in the 90's there were less roadblocks, less violence between both cultures and it was easier for those living in the West Bank and Gaza to enter Israel for work.

Does A Bear Shit In The Woods

Ex-Bear Stearns managers surrender in NYC

OK here goes embarrasing divulgence of information on my past. Ready? I FAILED MATH IN HIGH SCHOOL. YES, shmucko me, failed math and went to summer school. I couldn't figure out Algebra until college. Yes, I managed to pass the summer school classes. Yes I wrote classes folks.

The ironic thing about that is that give me a logic test and I will pass every single question while most will fail. Seriously!!

I would debate with science teachers about theories and they would summarily fail me on that particular test. Later we have learned that Pluto is NOT a planet etc... many of the things I argued in class turn out to be true.

Now with Bear Sterns and the fiasco they created, I have screamed bloody murder about this for a while, off line to friends. Can I speak their double speak? NOPE. But I can smell shit from a mile away. And even though I was a math flunky in HS, I know when something doesn't add up, when someone is scamming.

I've sat down at tables with men who tried to outwit me on how these bankers and lenders truly believed what they were saying and doing and why blah blah blah...it works?!?!?!? OH YEAH sure. Wanna buy the Brooklyn Bridge kiddos????

What We Can't See - Daily OM

What We Can’t See

The Unseen World

Just because we can’t see something doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist, although this is a common way in which people deny the existence of spirit guides, angels, and other unseen helpers in our lives. However, anyone who has encountered such beings can attest to the fact that they do, indeed, exist, just as our breath exists, keeping us alive, even though we can’t see it. The wind exists, too, but we only know this because we feel it on our skin and hear it moving the leaves on the trees. All around us and within us are things we can’t see, and yet we know they are just as real as the grass beneath our feet.

What we see and don’t see may just be a matter of perspective, like the ladybug who sees the leaf on which she sits, but not the tree the leaf grows on, or the person sitting beneath it. And the person beneath the tree may or may not see the ladybug, depending on where he focuses his attention. Still, all of these things, whether seen or not seen by the person or the ladybug, exist in reality. Some people are more gifted at accessing that which we cannot see, but given an open and willing heart, anyone can tune into the invisible realm and begin to find their way.

Human beings have always done this, and it is only recently that we have fallen into distrusting the existence of what we can’t see. If you have lost touch with the unseen world, all you have to do is resolve to open your heart to its existence, and it will make itself known. Closing your eyes in meditation and visualization, or engaging the unseen through the written word, are just two ways to welcome the invisible back into your life. Whatever you choose to do, cultivating a relationship with that which you can’t see is a time-honored human practice that can greatly enhance your life.


What do you think?

Vindicated!

OK OK I took a look at my JDate profile. It's been a long long time and I thought let me just log in. Maybe some new guys will be on the site and my profile will then become searchable by most recent log ins by some fresh fellas.

Then I decided to look at who has viewed my profile. I figured no one lately because if you do not log in your profile ends up at the bottom of the searches.

Low and behold 32 days ago Jake, that tadpole who seemed so into me, who called me to talk for hours and who I seemed to click nicely with BUT told me he was an ageist and I was too old for him and was so immature as to not even have the balls to tell me to my face or even on the phone no less, opened my profile after MONTHS passed from that date.

If you don't remember or started reading my blog after that period of time let me catch you up. I experimented with my age on my JDate profile because at the ripe old age of 36, now 37, almost no men around my age within a five year spread was interested in meeting me, simply due to my age. Low and behold I changed my age to 31 (because quite frankly when I go out with friends I am always hit on by men that are around 10 years younger and think I am too) and a ton of men popped into my Jdate email box. So in choosing 31 I actually upped the age. But that is how I met Jake. If I never told him my age he would not have known a thing. But I wanted to be honest from our first date because it seemed like we were really hitting it off in the right areas.

The minute I told him my age, he started to freak out and then tell me how he met someone else and wanted to pursue that. I was stupidly caught off guard and told him that I wanted to see him regardless if he wanted to keep seeing me. My brain wasn't working correctly in that moment. What can I say...I am a bit slow sometimes!

Well a very insulting email came a few days later telling me how this was so hard for him because he really really likes me and he has lost sleep over this decision but that because I am older than he is he didn't want to see me.

OH SPARE ME THE DRAMATICS.

Well bald 31 year old, now 32 is still on JDate, still looking and apparently at me. I haven't been online again for at least four months. I really have had enough with the online dating. It's garbage, bullshit, fake, and a big online magazine of women spread where men pick women out as if they were picking out a puppy.

"Let's see. I'll take a young, medium sized, dark haired, low maintenence bitch please." PUN INTENDED!!!

No thanks!

Well well I guess that special young girl who was so age appropriate didn't work out so well. At least not well enough that he decided to check out my profile again only 32 days ago and is logged on to the site again tonight.

BRUUUUUHHHHHAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!!

I swear I am going to write that book titled: Who Gives A Shit If He Doesn't Call!

My Dying Plant