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 |  My journal. Rated GC for an occaisonal four-letter word or two. |
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** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** Hmm...one day I'll write a newer introduction. Maybe I should make a static item of all my different introductions.  New Introduction, October 31, 2005 It's time to update this introduction. Since June 2005, I've packed up and moved from Armenia to the US, found a house, waited a month for settlement, moved in, found a preschool for my son, got settled in, and maybe found my sanity. Maybe. I'm just now getting back to writing. Read on for more about me and life in the US. Original Introduction: I live in the former Soviet Republic of Armenia nine months out of the year. The rest of the time you can find me living out of a suitcase in the US or on one of our travels somewhere. This journal started out as a description of my life in Armenia, but I've amended it since I've realized that life there is very similar to life everywhere. I don't have a car, clothes dryer, microwave, or dishwasher but I've learned one doesn't really need those things to have a fulfilling life. Some days I'm just estatic over a slow trickle of hot water which can mean the difference between being smelly for another twenty-four hours or being clean. By the way, DH=dear husband; DS=darling son; MIL=mother-in-law. You get the picture. |
You empty half of the dishwasher before realizing that it hasn't been run yet.  |
| From the FCNL website (Friends Committee on National Legislation): http://www.fcnl.org Members of Congress have failed to respond to the public demand for a change in policy in Iraq. They are about to approve, and the president will sign, legislation providing nearly $100 billion more for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan without insisting on a change in policy. Congress has capitulated to the stubborn demands of President Bush just as it was beginning to take steps to correct the failed U.S. strategy in Iraq. But we will have another chance to end the war in the next month. The Senate will soon have an opportunity to try again to change U.S. policy in Iraq. FCNL lobbyists have learned that bipartisan legislation to require the U.S. to engage in diplomatic talks to end the war and to set a date for withdrawal of U.S. forces will be introduced and could be voted on in June as part of the military authorization bill. Your senators need to hear from you and from other people in your community that you want them to support this legislation for a date certain to withdraw and diplomacy. Follow this link to send a letter to your senators (and don't worry, just put in your zip code and the site will take care of all the contact information for you) http://capwiz.com/fconl/issues/alert/?alertid=9803601&type=CO I sent my letters this morning via e-mail. While my efforts won't count as much, many will. Each e-mail is important. Please send your's today. |
 Hubby has been out of town for almost two weeks. He comes home on Sunday night! Yippee! My ONLY editing client e-mailed me a rush job today. Not much money, but more than I was making doing keyword articles. Kiddo has a cold. Stuffy nose, cough, the works. But feels well enough to pluck my nerves! Did I mention hubby is coming home? Got new inspiration about my financial situation. More about that later. Anyone know how to determine the viability of an online store? (Yes, that's part of the previous .) Gotta run. Kiddo needs a shower, medicine, and bed! And I need to get some stuff done before CSI comes on. Tomorrow I'll be editing my little brains out! I just might share with you the opening sentence. You'll fall out of your chair . But I might not. Would that be unprofessional? Hubby is coming home on Sunday!  I put in a Tupperware party of almost $300 so I'm not about to go inactive. Yippee! May is a HUGE Tupperware sales month, so wander over to my site and BUY SOMETHING! I need $$ to buy GPS! |
| I feel bad but at the same time I feel relieved. The money wasn't great and it's not the type of writing I want to do. I know it's important to figure that out...what you don't want to do. But it's really time to figure out what I do want to do, otherwise I'll be handing out smiley stickers at WalMart come September. |
| Not sure when I wrote last... I'm loving this quick blog entry screen. It's a lazy Sunday. We didn't make it to Quaker Meeting today. Kiddo was having a tough morning so I decided to just hang out instead. We had a long, busy week and I think it just caught up to him. Hubby is out of town until next Sunday. We're getting along just fine. Yippee! I've cleaned the kitchen, done some reading, worked on laundry, and now I'm getting ready to work on 10 keyword articles due on Tuesday. Kiddo has been hanging out on the couch playing with his marble game or his legos and sort of watching TV. Hasn't asked to go outside or to the pool or anything! More later! |
| As some of you know, I'm a Reiki Master/Teacher. One of the greatest gifts I've received while working with the Reiki energy is to meet my Reiki guides. I have three: one is an angel and two are Native American. I also have the blessing of my sister in law, also a Reiki Master/Teacher and her Reiki guides. She called me up today to tell me that the Universe was telling her to tell me "No. It's enough. You've done enough." I had been sweating over those articles and feeling bad because I didn't get the word count, even though I suspected the client would be happy with what I gave them. I got another assignment for the same site, so I guess they are good enough! She also said her guides were telling me to stop underestimating my experience level, that I am more than qualified to do the writing that I want to do. I'm no longer a doubting Susan. I just got overwhelmed. Everytime I do one of these projects, I learn something about myself and my confidence and self-esteem grow. Soon, very soon.... |
| I'm seriously wondering if freelance commercial writing is for me. This is not a bad thing, just a realization that I've pegged my hopes on the wrong peg. I'm not doubting my writing ability, mind you. I know I have talent and ability. I just wonder if I have the drive to do this for a living? Scary thought, 'cause I need to start bringing in $$$ very soon and if this doesn't work out, I've no idea what to do. Stocking shelves at the grocery store just scares the crap out of me. *sigh* Back to work.... |
| Not a rant but a panic attack! Deadline looming, not anywhere's near my word count, and the AC repair guy will be here momentarily. Oh, and kiddo doesn't have preschool today and is not interested in hanging out in front of the TV, which I only allow on Fridays. I'm supposed to do 10 articles at 400 words and I'm struggling to get to 250. Not sure if the client will accpet them, so not sure if I'll get paid. arrggg.... |
| Write one down, pass it around, 3,999 words left on the wall.... (sung to, well, I'm sure you've figured it out!) Yikes! Got a project due tomorrow. 10 articles that are supposed to be 400 words each, but that ain't happening. All I can get is 250 for each topic. It's keywords and introduces a section on a website. There is only so much I crap I can write!!! I'll have to write my client later tonight and let her know. It's a little late to be presenting a problem like this, but, hey, I tend to work at the last minute. I'll send her a few of the completed (well, I say they are done) articles and she can tell me if they're fine the way they are or help me figure out how to expand them. I think her client didn't really know how to judge what they needed. Did those pronoun references make sense? I'm being a sub-contractor for another writer who throws me some stuff now and again. And instead of working, here I am wandering through blogville. Hmm...wonder how many words this entry is? And why can't my articles come together this quickly? *slogs back to keywords* 3,998 words on the wall, 3,998....writes one down...... Added: I checked...220 words before adding these piddly few. Almost a whole article! |
| fell, was pushed, was flung, somehow ended up out of its nest and onto our front walk. I have no idea where the nest is, where it landed is in open territory. Kiddo found it and like all kids, was totally mesmerized. We got a life lesson out of it. But still, burying a dead baby bird was not on my list of things to do today. |
| Kiddo is home from preschool today. I had to take him to the dentist to have a cavity filled. He's hanging out on the couch waiting for the sleepy stuff to wear off, you know, the stuff that puts your tooth asleep! Mr. Whistle ticked off all the sugar bugs. I love this dentist. He didn't even know that he got a shot of novacaine! Crap, he must be feeling better, he's getting into everything! LOL. Yes, I know I should be happy he's better, but I can't get anything done. Still behind on the writing assignments. Got even more laundry to do since kiddo peed in his bed last night. (Can't complain since we're down to once a month.) I'm doing another Introduction to Reiki seminar Wednesday night at 9 pm eastern on Second Life. woo hoo! Love it. |
| I'm just so unfocused on Monday mornings. And it's not like I've got time to be unfocused! I've got inlaws coming in on Friday for kiddo's BD party. A cake to order, a house to clean, and even some writing to do! For pay even!!!! I've got 5, 500-word marketing articles to ghostwrite and a book review I promised to finish, plus plenty of other book reviews that are months behind, months. Sheesh. The universe was looking out for me though. I offered a full Reiki session at kiddo's silent auction knowing full well that if someone bid on it, I'd have to beg, borrow, or steal a massage table to fulfill my promise. It went for $35 and had several bids, which is a minor victory since we had so much stuff and many items only had one bid (like the vitamin basket I won!). That was Saturday night. Yesterday (Sunday) afternoon at a kid's birthday party, I mentioned to another metaphysical mom that I was looking to borrow, barter, or buy a massage table. She started screaming with joy! Yes, joy! She's got one that she's been trying to get rid of, through 4 garage sales even. So, next week, after the birthday party madness (two in one weekend, my kiddo and another school chum), I'll have her over to my still clean house (one can always hope  ) and give her a Reiki session.I spent time last week doing brochures and revamping my website. And last Thursday I did an Introduction to Reiki session on Second Life that went very well. So I had been preparing my talk for that, adding to the general craziness of last week. Life is busy. The struggle is bringing in income while doing what I love, which right now is writing and Reiki. I know it'll come. I feel it and I can start to see it. |
| I won't get started on politics, but suffice it to say that the good Quaker I am is so morally opposed it this it isn't funny. I don't hate my brother or his decisions, I hate our government and society for putting people in this position. Tomorrow I get up oh dark early, drive 9 hours, and say goodbye to my brother who reports for training on Monday morning. Iraq here he comes. He's Army National Guard, you know, the ones who are supposed to protect us HERE on this piece of land, not in the litterbox of oil fields. And I hate the idea of saying goodbye. And of a big family farewell which he didn't want anyway but somehow it got foisted on them. But I'm going for my nephew. He needs a grownup there to look out for him and his needs during this mess of a "party" so I'm going for him. Life sucks. |
| And I'm not sure today is going to be the one! I think I'll keep the page open and add throughout the day. My dad is coming in to town tomorrow and staying here. I've not been good at keeping up with the cleaning, so today and tomorrow will be concentrated cleaning days. Not panic days, just focusing on picking up, putting away, etc. I'll be working on kiddo's toy room first since I tend to purge that and he can't be here! "Mommy, I neeeeeeeed that piece of mangled up newspaper. It's immmmpppppoooooooooortant!" Ha! We went clothes shopping for kiddo and hubby yesterday, so lots of new clothes to wear. Lots of goodwill stuff to list and take away. I miss the good ole days when you could just throw it in a bag and drop it off. Well, I could still do that, but I want the tax deduction. I finished a writing project late last night. 7 400-word keyword articles based on clothing.  I tell ya, I was pulling gold nuggets outta my butt last night 'cause I have no idea where some of these words came from. And I think they'll want more. But it's writing, and it's a few bucks, and I didn't have to work to get the assignment (like marketing or anything) since I'm doing contract work for someone else.My brother was in the hospital on Friday. Suspected cardiac issues since he was having chest pains. They did a full cardio workup and it's not his heart...so, it's either gallbladder or GI something or another. He has a sonogram on Tues and a CT scan with contrast on Wed. He needs to get this straightened out since he's scheduled to report to the Armory next Wednesday, then on to training for two months, and then to dear ole Iraq. OK, that's enough for now. 10 minutes is all this blog gets today. |
| "You will become more and more wealthy" One can only hope... |
| Woke up sick today. Stuffy head, sore throat (though that may just be from drainage and not infection since it feels better after eating) Someone suggested that maybe I haven't meditated in a while, which is true. I'm going to explore that idea. And drink lots of water and take lots of Vitamin C. Got lots to do, finally got a handle on what my website should look like and now I'm eager to outline it. Defining the content on my site actually helps answer some of the questions for my business plan. I found a marketing quick start guide with awesome info that I'm ready to start working through and defining my business/site. Off to the races....kiddo needs a new passport since he's turning 5 and the only post office that handles it on Sat is 45 minutes away. *groan* |
I found a website that makes a virtual you! This is close, I've got bangs and the avatar doesn't. Cool beans! Edited to add: I've added one at my goal weight too...what inspiration! |
| I'm so sick of these extra pounds. After 5 years, I can't blame it on kiddo any longer. I bought You: On a Diet today and joined the Momwriters Weight Loss Subgroup. 9 weeks of accountability and motivation. I'll let you know how it goes! |
| I learned something new today about my feelings. They are not who I am. I am happy. I am sad. These statements are not who I am. I am who I am. I feel happy. I feel sad. Or, a feeling of happiness has washed over me. I like that one (too bad I borrowed it from a book) I am Susan. Who feels tired today. Who will be doing the happy dance soon and feeling elated when she FINALLY finishes her taxes. I'll let you know! |
| I skipped Quaker Meeting for Worship to stay home unshowered and in my PJ's to work on taxes. I'm up to September. I WANT TO FINISH TODAY!!!! And I will get a shower, soon. I'll need a break shortly. Maybe after September is done. |
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