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Monday, August 4, 2003
Monday:
The car decided to bite it again this morning.... made a REALLY bad sound at one point... I had decided to take it to the shop to be worked on anyway, but I didn't realize it would be that early in the morning. So! I had to call the tow company because I was afraid to attempt to start it again. HOWEVER, when the tow truck got to the house.... he took my key to see if he could hear what it was doing..... IT STARTED RIGHT UP AGAIN!!!..... wtf???? ARGH! Okay, so I asked him what the minimum charge was for him to stop by my home.... and it was $35..... okay.... I felt like an idiot for having him come and then the car started right away. So.... he took my credit card to charge for the call.... and then 5 seconds later he returns from his truck with my card saying that he wouldn't charge me.... I was soooo thankful.... he even offered to follow me into San Luis to the auto shop.... but I guess he got a call as he was following me so he took off at an exit for Avila Beach... I made it to the shop just fine.
Erin and I walked then to Budget Cafe. We had brunch and relaxed.... then called Brian to see if he could help get me to the airport to rent a car. I was very happy and grateful that he was available to help. VERY GRATEFUL... I would have had to take a taxi... which would start ticking up the dollar figures for my car going into the shop. I called to find out what the status was for my car.... they can't seem to duplicate the problem.... (no surprise there).... and they don't seem to see any issues with it being a starter problem.... signs are pointing towards the battery..... that may be the culprit!
Well, I dropped Erin off at the airport .... it was cute because there was this group of children getting a "field trip" of the airport. The questions they asked were adorable... and the stories. It was great to see them... the young minds... and the caring teachers. The airport started calling out for the passengers to head through the security gates... so we went and stood in line for a while and then I noticed that at a certain point it was only passengers and authorized personnel. I said my good-bye and left.... didn't cry until I was out of the airport doors.... didn't think I was going to cry....but I really am going to miss having my sister around. It was such an incredibly fun vacation. I am sooooo happy that she was able to make the vacation as well. Next year or so is my turn to go to Dallas. :)
kmc posted this at: 4:44 p.m.questions/comments?
Sunday, August 3, 2003
Sunday:
Dealing with the car early in the morning..... thought I was going to have to go rent a car for the entire day, so I had a friend come over to pick us up and take us to the airport to rent a car there. Well, before I took off, I wanted to get some things out of the car to take with us. I took my keys out to unlock the car.... and just for the hell of it I decided to try to start the car..... and of course, it started.... go figure! First try... sounded fine.... so I sent my friend home.... with a promise of lunch or something later...
With the car running, I was then able to take Erin to another one of my favorite spots... the Halcyon Store. We had a nice visit there and picked up a book or two as souveniers as well. The Rainbow Bridge by Kerry and Tom Nechodom.... and a small publication about some even in Arroyo Grande in the 1800's.... she and her husband like those kind of things.
After Halcyon, we went to visit Heidi at the vet clinic... since she was working on Sunday I thought it would be great to show Erin where I worked on Sundays and introduce her to my closest friend on the Central Coast. Two birds theory. I was very happy to have them meet each other! Heidi and her family are like my family in this area..... they have been a very big help to me and I wanted Erin to meet her while she was here!
Lunch time! As promised, I picked up Brian to do lunch with us. We hit the Margie's Diner.... they feed you so much food with whatever you order!! It was great. The conversations seemed to be non-stop laughter! It was like having a workout on your abs while eating! Absolutely wonderful! I had so much fun!!!
After lunch Erin and I tried to find another tattoo shop in San Luis.... come to find out, the only two shops that were in San Luis were no longer operating. Bummer. Ah well, back to the beaches to get more pictures for Erin to take home. I decided to go to Avila Beach on my way back into Pismo Beach. She was able to get some great pictures of the boats at the Port. Beautiful day! There were some seals at Port San Luis, so of course she HAD to get pictures! There are so many things that I take for granted that she has never seen before in "real life".... hummingbirds.... that was another thing she had never seen in real life.... sure pictures are cool and everything.... but there is nothing like seeing them in action.... (there were two out at the vet clinic that she was able to see.... one even perched in a tree.... a still hummingbird!)...
Next beach.... Shell Beach .... again.... you can never get too much of Shell Beach! She took a few shots at the park there and then we headed on into Pismo Beach. Parking was crazy! I made one round and then came back around and happen to catch a great spot.... so we parked and walked out to the very end of the Pismo Beach Pier. Perfect timing.... there was an otter eating... it was great.... I think she took 10 or 15 shots of the otter alone!!! :) It would pop up with it's rock and an oyster or musscle and crack it open and eat it... then sit up for a brief moment and "bloope" back in under the water to fetch some more! :) it was cute.... we watched for a good 15 minutes or so. The breeze was pretty strong and cool.... so we walked back to the car and stopped at the other tattoo shop in Pismo Beach, the Tiger Rose. They had A LOT of artwork to look at. So we found another idea that we would like to do since we both like tattoos... there are chinese letters for "sisters" that we were very interested in getting. I think that may be the next one. Just a simple tattoo. And then working on my original one's artwork over the next year or so... and then deciding where I want to place it.
Back home... we had a "Rush Hour" and "Rush Hour II" back to back movie night! It was great!! Erin had not seen the second one.... so she was loving it!!!
kmc posted this at: 10:30 p.m.questions/comments?
Saturday, August 2, 2003
Saturday:
Well, it started out okay.... breakfast, shower, ready to head out and have some fun!!!! ..... and then trying to start the car.... it decided to have a really bad morning of not turning over.... my landlord tried to help... nothing.... so I called a "mobile repair" place.... I was given a window between 4 and 6 PM.... DUDE.... what??? ARGH! Okay... I thought that would be fine, we will just walk around Pismo Beach... we were going to do a walk in Pismo anyway.... just changed the schedule to Saturday.... instantly! Turned out to be a BEAUTIFULLY warm day in Pismo! The shops were full of people ... we hit the "touristy" spots to pick up souveniers for her family.... that was the fun stuff.... I could have just kept on going! We stopped in at a new shop (well, new to me.. I hadn't noticed that Pismo got a pet shot).... it was sooooo much fun!! The kittens and puppies were absolutely adorable!! We both love baby animals... as we put it.... "Their so cute, you could just squish 'em".... explanation: "Squish 'em" translates to "hug them for hours and hours."
We stopped at a tattoo shop to look at some artwork for some more ideas... we both are looking for some egyptian artwork ... scarabs to be exact. We found some nice stuff at the "Mothership" in Pismo... I still think I am going to do my own artwork and get it done later. Still a big fan of Paul Hughes. I will more than likely have him do the next piece.
And then... after another long day of walking.... our feet were screaming at us to get back home! so we did... and had a nice relaxing evening.
kmc posted this at: 10:30 p.m.questions/comments?
Friday, August 1, 2003
Friday!! Our first event for the day was a massage by my very dear friend Cathryn. We each received a half an hour massage... much needed for me!!! :) I am always so very thankful when I can get a massage from her! Erin enjoyed her massage as well; this was her first massage she had ever received. So I was very happy that Cathryn was the one who performed her first massage. She is a great therapist!!
Now, I couldn't remember if I had told Peggy at the Health & Harmony and A Mother's Massage that I was on vacation, so I had just planned to go in and work while Erin explored Pismo Beach... well, Peggy came in to the waiting area while Erin was getting her massage and insisted that I not worry about working on Saturday. Her first priority is always family! I thought that was very kind of her to do that for me! GREAT NEWS! So after the massages we headed out to my work... I wanted to show her what I did and where I worked. I am very pleased with the environment in which I get to work. It is an extremely beautiful office. I also was able to introduce her to a few of my co-workers and a supervisor as well.
We had lunch in Templeton at the Templeton Market and Deli... one of my regular lunch spots! It was good... they forgot the avocado and mustard on my sandwich. :( Not cool. Ah, well.... we ate at the park which was lovely!
Shopping! We had to hit a place to pick up a pair of walking shoes.... flip-flops just weren't going to cut it for the next step in the plan for the day. So we went to Ross.... love that place for inexpensive shoes.... and t-shirts! So we did what most women love to do..... SHOP!
And then..... it was off to THE FAIR!!! We walked around for quite a while through all the market stuff.... picked up a licence plate frame... it was something fun and silly to do!! Also got Erin a ring ... natural stones.... it's fun to shop for her and rings because she likes the same style that I do. After walking around for what seemed like a REALLY long time... we stopped in an area of the fair that had previews for some event coming up sponsored by "GOT MILK?".... skateboarders, vert-bike riders, a flat-land bike performer, and a vert-inline skater. I tried to get a few pictures of the performers and their acts. Loved it!!
And then back down the hill (aka the Cuesta Grade)... back home just in time to see the most beautiful sunset in Shell Beach. There was a storm out on the ocean and the pink and orange sunset was going off behind it... so we stopped to take pictures!! Gorgeous!!
Since I was in Shell Beach, I decided to stop by another friend's house and say hi.... introduce Erin and see my kitty, Mukai.... she is doing well; always happy to hear that. She is such a sweet thing! I am glad she was able to stay in her "home environment".... Anyway.... short visit... and then off to the house. Another long day and vegged in front of the TV for about an hour and then hit the pillow hard.
kmc posted this at: 10:45 p.m.questions/comments?
Thursday, July 31, 2003
Thursday was great! I went to the small SLO Airport to pick Erin up in the morning. First thing we did was grocery shopping! :) Figured it would be easier to pick up a few things when she got there. Headed home to drop off everything and chat a bit.... we got into the paperwork again from the adoption proceedings that she went through as a child. We reviewed some of the things that described our mother.... very odd to go back in time that way! We had a few laughs at some of the observations... therapeutic, I guess.
I wanted to introduce her to friends, so that was the next step.... sat and visited for a while. And then lunch at Cugini's - always good food!! After that we headed to a great little store in Los Osos... Volumes of Pleasure. A metaphysical items and bookstore. I have grown very fond of this store. It's a must visit for any friends who are interested in the same types of things that I am. AND, my sister is very much so into the same things that I am. It was a great visit!
After the bookstore we headed out to Montana de Oro to walk out onto the rocks a bit. Took a lot of pictures.... I will try to get those up as soon as possible... I only get to post 6 pictures a day, so it will be a few days (maybe weeks) before I get the whole group of pictures that I want up.
After the ocean visit, we meandered back into SLO for the Farmers Market! They had tuber roses for sale.... they were soooo incredibly fragrant! We wondered around a while more visiting shops as well as the street vendors. We also decided to go to Starbuck in the downtown center after walking around a bit... we rested there a while and were people watching! fun!
A long day for Erin, so we headed back home to relax and have more conversations. And then an early bed time... to prepare for the next day!
kmc posted this at: 10:30 p.m.questions/comments?
Wednesday, July 30, 2003
I am bouncing off the walls at work. SO, easily distracted by the fact that my sister, Erin will be here tomorrow morning. I told my co-workers that I am A.D.H.D today... so just know that and you will be able to understand some of the brain tweaks. I didn't do anything terribly wacko today as far as processing my normal work. I got my AP done on time!!! I rock!!!
I am already thinking about all of the things that we are going to go do. I have so many places and events planned out. Friday morning is a MASSAGE!!! Spa morning and Midstate Fair in the afternoon! Friends to visit... restaurants to eat at... the ocean beach to walk on... SOOOO many things. I am going to love every minute of it. I am already loving every minute of it and she doesn't get here until 10:30 am tomorrow morning! hehehe!
I bought this little gumball dispenser at Target the other day... it dispenses "fortunes" on the gumball. The co-workers love it. They come in for their daily (and some afternoon 2nd visits too) of fortune telling. The most common one for one of the Ranch Managers today is: "time to chill"....HA!! It's pre-Harvest season... chill? not in this business! :) It is a fun conversation piece; people are enjoying the cute little fortunes. For some reason it keeps telling me "bad hair day".... hmmm. Time for a haircut?
Well... I am headed off to another job from this one.... gotta run Payroll. Should be fairly quick. I am looking forward to the evening.... relax some how. I think it may require a drink to get me to unwind! Where's that raspberry martini? ;)
kmc posted this at: 04:46 p.m.questions/comments?
Monday, July 28, 2003
Okay.... real quick this morning..... driving the Cuesta Grade sometimes really irks me. I mean, aside from the construction and them closing it down to one lane some days.... I whole heartedly feel that Semi-Trucks SHOULD NOT PASS.... it slows the entire grade down to 25 miles an hour.... isn't that considered impeding the flow of traffic??? That got me steamed this morning. Ah, now I feel better for being able to vent it.
Carry on with your day!
~:)
kmc posted this at: 07:50 a.m.questions/comments?
Sunday, July 27, 2003
Work was fine.... same thing.... bookkeeping is pretty much the same... punch in numbers... find errors.... pull hair... back to the numbers.... bathroom break..... back to the numbers.... and then have the boss stop by to pick up his laptop realizing the day has flown by! So, I wrap things up while he went to storage with his family to continue unpacking...(they recently moved here).
Alrighty then.... now the day is done.... I've decided to go sit at a park and play on my computer.... best of both worlds.... online and sitting in the grass.... it's great! NICE SURPRISE TOO..... friend who lives nearby brought me a snack..... turkey sandwich, orange popsicle and red wine.... wild combination, but I love it!!! Hit the spot!!
I got to post some pictures this morning... was happy to get to do that.... I haven't had a connection at home again, so I don't get to do my regular evening postings like I had for a while there. I have quite a few pictures to post too.... been having fun with the camera. It's a great new hobby.... makes me more aware of what is around me.
Okay..... I need to set the computer aside to eat my popsicle... don't want to drip on the computer! :)
ta! ciao! asta!
be well!
kmc posted this at: 06:03 p.m.questions/comments?
Friday, July 25, 2003
I decided I would go get my results from the Belief-O-Matic test too... I got an email from the Emode thing, it said I best matched "Unitarian Universalism"... okay, I'll research it. If there are others that I could have conversations with that have similar paths... it's nice to find those that are like-minded.
Anyway, the results:
kmc posted this at: 12:22 p.m.questions/comments?
Friday, July 25, 2003
Took another EMODE test today.... only to prove yet again that I don't FIT any specific religion. I highly believe that "religion" needs to be dissolved and put aside for spiritual enlightenment to actually happen. Religions are merely tools... and even tools can become "crutches" when one does not let go of the tool when they need to. Devices become addictions.... drugs that pacify and numb the mind and spiritual senses. It's easier to BE TOLD what to do, rather than to SEEK YOUR OWN truths. Teachers were/are here to GUIDE... not to become WORSHIPPED. And on that note... here are the funny results of my test:
Kelly, your belief system is best suited to religions that value open mindedness.
How do we know? While you were taking this test, we compared your religious beliefs against 10 of the world's most common religions. Your score shows that you share core beliefs with religions that encourage you to find your own spiritual path.
You are attracted to a religion that tolerates mixed beliefs about the existence of God and upholds the idea that there is something to be learned from every religion. You are open to a wide variety of religious and spiritual ideas. You are attracted to spiritual groups that are composed of typically open-minded and intellectual people who actively engage in individual exploration of many different spiritual truths.
Of course at this point they say you can order a report for five bucks to see what how well I match those "TOP 10" religions. Nah, I'll pass.
This is very similar to the larger test Belief-o-Matic. The difference here is that they will give you the breakdown of percentages that you match to certain religions.... and not just the top ten. I had found some very interesting reading on other cultural religions via this test. It is much more detailed as well... either one is fun to take. Remember, it's all for entertainment. One should never really take these things too seriously.
Live life,
Laugh often,
be Love,
Give completely,
Receive graciously...
be well.
this illusion, too, shall pass.
kmc posted this at: 7:00 a.m.questions/comments?
Wednesday, July 23, 2003
"A person getting enlightened is like the moon reflecting in the water. The moon does not get wet, the water is not disturbed. Though it is a great expanse of light, it reflects in a little bit of water; the whole moon and the whole sky reflect even in the dew on the grass; they reflect even in a single drop of water. Enlightenment not disturbing the person is like the moon not piercing the water. A person not obstructing enlightenment is like the dewdrop not obstructing the heavens."
-Dogen, "Flowers Fall"
Another very beautiful piece of wisdom... it's nice to read the words and see the image at the same time... and then put the corelation together and it is incredibly deep!
Today is a very wonderful friend's birthday! HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAVID (aka rapopoda)!!! You are special to me because you have "been there" for me in some of the most difficult and trying times of my life. Beyond words please feel the gratitude that I have for you. You are love, you are loved!!!
be here, be now...
be well.
kmc posted this at: 11:47 a.m.questions/comments?
Wednesday, July 23, 2003
I am starting to get "bouncy inside"... I am so excited about my sister getting to visit. It will be the first time in a LONG, LONG time that one of my siblings has come to visit me. Especially an out-of-state sibling. The cool thing here is that this is still a new relationship. I got to meet my sister in January of 2001... and now she is coming to visit me! And, for having only known her for such a short while, it is amazing how extremely similar we are... even with the extraordinarily different lifestyles we live. I believe she is someone that I have always had with me throughout many lives. It is amazing how certain aspects always find each other to keep existing in the same timeframe of this physical existence. I feel that way about many of my friends... some of them are so easy to be around... as if I have already known them for all of my life, so it is cool to just "be" without having to pretend to be something "expected." That is how I feel with Erin too. She has no expecations of me.... a sister who does not expect me to be anything other than myself. My other younger sister is the same way too... Jody is the second youngest. She understands that just because we are all busy with our lives that it doesn't mean that we don't love each other very much. I think the separation of the siblings helped us understand the idea of "separate but not apart." I do care very deeply for all of my siblings (And I have quite a few!!!) But I do not write, call or contact them that often. (thus the website for them to 'check up' on me)... I also understand that they have their own lives as well... and that they too could call, write, or reach out to me... Well, these are some of the issues that are starting to surface. I know that they are things that I need to confront in order to move forward... to let go of the chords that drain energy from me. I am aware of what is needed to heal. Now comes the discipline of DOING it. Staying with the circumstances and experiencing the pain or whatever occurs. And then letting go for good. It is good to have support when this is happening. Again, I thank my friends who are in my life... both physically and those who are further away and sending their support via emails and messages. :) Well, I am in the "About a Week" leg of my countdown!! I get giddy when I look up at my calendar at work during the day! I have the days highlighted in pink. I am sooooo excited! This is going to be so much fun! be well.
kmc posted this at: 7:00 a.m.questions/comments?
Tuesday, July 22, 2003
I love announcing new things!!! My landlord's sister owns a local beachwear shop here in Pismo Beach... and then have just added the site D&H Beachwear: Original Hawaiin Shirts. I think it is still under construction some.... but I think it looks great! I love the colors - very vibrant! I got to submit a picture of mine to the site designer to use... so the pic at the top.... I did that!!!
I guess the Hawaiin Shirts are really the hot thing now. I thought it was just some cheezy thing, but no.... I would have to say, those shirts are comfy and stylish. I like!! Some are cotton, some are rayon... all of them are comfortable!!! I think I will use this site for gift ideas for men... and some women. Ya know... couples.... matching shirts.... CUTE! (Okay, not all of the couples that I know would like that idea... but hey... they can't NOT wear it!) I am looking forward to a LAUNCH PARTY! .... it could happen.... announce it.... make a banner.... make it a party! Wow, I could be in marketing ... ha!
Well... I am wishing them lots of lucks with the site and going to try to be one of the first to make a purchase. :))
this was just a short post ... hehehe!
be well!
kmc posted this at: 04:38 p.m.questions/comments?
Monday, July 21, 2003
I had a great weekend even working around my work schedule!
So here it is the ......Weekend Wrap-up:
FRIDAY: After what seemed to be an incredibly long day at work, I headed home to get at least two more loads of laundry done before my guest arrived. At 9 pm Bryan arrived! We headed out afoot into Pismo (downtown? - not all the way downtown, but anyway....) We first tried to see what the wait time was for the larger part of Giuseppe's... it was a 45 minute wait... we opted to look for another place to eat. Then we walked past the Giuseppe's South (the take-out pizza part down the street about a block)... you can order regular meal items from the larger restaurant there!! So we did. I had Timbalo and Bryan had a Meatball Sandwich. And then they just gave us a loaf of Giuseppe's Bread! SWEET!! Took it home to eat and watched The Mummy Returns... and called it a night. It was cool, I didn't have to attempt to pull out the hide-away bed out of the sofa... he said he'd just sleep on the sofa as it was (it is a HUGE sofa... soft and comfy!) ... so, I just made up the sofa like a day bed and then had to make up my own bed since I had just washed the sheets for it a couple hours earlier. I am not a real big fan of making beds that late in the evening.... (note to self: go ahead and make the bed as soon as it is cleared of the other sheets.)
SATURDAY: My morning was being as quiet as I could.... I tiptoed into the kitchen to prepare coffee.... then it donned on me, I don't pre-grind my coffee. *doh* Okay, so I took the beans and the coffee grinder BACK into my bedroom and ground the beans there! Clever genious, aren't I? ;) I managed to be fairly quiet, but somewhere along my movements I must have stirred him, because I heard a "G'morning" ... I finished making the coffee and then started on my photos while he lay there drifting back and forth between small conversation with me and back to sleep. I got as many photos ready for posting as I could before I had to head out to work (Saturdays at Health & Harmony and A Mother's Massage.)
After work we ventured out (walking again) downtown into the MASSES of people in downtown Pismo Beach. We had lunch at Mo's Smokehouse BBQ on Pomeroy, just a block and a half up from the pier. He is convinced that Victorville needs to get a Mo's to go into business there. We discussed ways to convince the city to bring it in. Fun conversations! :) They have GREAT barbeque there!! We tried a Sweet Potatoe Pie, too. TO DIE FOR! that was a superb finish to a bbq lunch! Thank goodness we walked downtown ... now we could walk the meal off as well!! We traversed a little further into the "touristy" section and went into a couple of shops in the boardwalk area. Made our way down to the BEACH... stepped into the sand... and that was it.... no need to go treking around the beach... just wanted to step into the sand. :) Then we realized, too, that it had started to sprinkle... RAIN? That wasn't in the forcast. It sprinkled lightly as we walked back up to the house. From there we had descided try to hit at least one winery for wine tasting. So we headed off to Edna Valley's Tasting Room. Since most of the wineries close at 5 pm, Edna was the only stop for the day. After that we headed to downtown San Luis Obispo! Stopped in at the Wine Store on Higuera. Picked up another couple bottles of wine.
HAD to make a stop at Cold Stone Creamery! It was a warm day even though it had rained. Bryan had the Mojo - something ... coffee icecream with lots of cool additions... can't recall what they were. I had Peanutbutter Cup Perfection... Chocolate icecream with Reese's Peanutbutter Cups and Fudge mixed in. Mmmm!! Both tasted great. Did quite a bit of people watching and commenting there. Fun to do. After the icecream, we started walking around town more... just wherever... hit the mission... wandered around the mission for a while looking at all the plants. Then Bryan opted to go see a movie... so... we headed to the Downtown Center to see what was playing. Pirates of the Caribbean - he had seen it but said he would see it again if I hadn't... it was that good! The 7 pm show was sold out so we got tickets for the 9 pm show and meandered around some more hitting Jamba Juice for a shot of wheatgrass, Mmmmm! And then stopping in at McCarthy's for a casual drink or two! :)
The movie was great! I enjoyed it soooo much. Johnny Depp did a spectacular job, as did the rest of the cast. Wonderful how they captured pieces of the popular Disneyland ride in the movie... that was fun... kind of like "Hey, I remember that in the ride!" I had to have a couple of those pointed out to me early on in the movie... then I picked up a few of my own! I really liked the cinematography... the magic of it all!
After the movie we had to head home again... can't stay out late... work again on Sunday for the Veterinary clinic in the Edna Valley area.
SUNDAY: Still got to sleep in a bit on Sunday too, but we walked down to the All American Cafe in Pismo on Price Street.... had a casual breakfast before he had to head back home. Finally remembered to take my digital camera with me ... silly me, I had forgotten to take it with me anywhere else! So I captured a few moments at breakfast... I will try to get them loaded this week sometime on my photolog. Breakfast was very good.... the conversation was great!! I had a fabulous weekend with Bryan visiting. It was so good to get to see him again! THANK YOU FOR VISITING, BRYAN!! :))
So after he took off, so did I.... to work! Getting a handle on the books at the vet clinic. It still has a way to go. Work was work... same thing usually. :) I captured some fun pictures there as well. After work I did some catching up with a local friend... fun evening. Went through a scrapbook that was such an incredible documentation of his life... wild that people kept so many things from the childhood. He "blames" it on his mother! What a wonderful mother! Then there was a stack of photos and proof sheets from his Photography class. THAT was fun to run through those... black and whites... great shots! It was weird seeing the grades on them. Now, I did say that it was fun to go through these "memories".... but at the same time it cause a very painful feeling in me. THIS is the kind of life that I envied. THIS was something I did not even remotely have. I couldn't be sooooo more opposite from this guy! I got pretty emotional for a while... so many things went through my head and heart at the same time. Happy that people do live like that, and sad/angry that I didn't live like that. I look at where I am at in my life and what I have, and then I looked at where he is at and what he has... he's younger than I am... part of me wonders ... does that really make a difference. Should I own a home just because I am older than this person??? I think what it is ... it's that I see stability and security... support from loved ones.... a strong family structure.... everything I never had. It's amazing how many emotions that friends can create without even knowing. He knew that I got upset.... but I didn't really go into any detail about it. Just me trying to unlock what is inside me and deal with it... I really feel that something opened up that I haven't touched in years. I have to resolve some issues with my mother.
But, to sum up the entire weekend..... I had the most spectacular time! Friends are so incredible... I love them all. Thank you for being a part of my life!
be well.
kmc posted this at: 7:07 a.m.questions/comments?
Wednesday, July 16, 2003
And the Birthday Luncheon Menu was:
Grilled Marinated Chicken Breasts
Grilled French Bread with Garlic Butter
Grilled Rosemary/Sourdough with Garlic Butter
Basic Green Salad
Green Salad with Walnuts, Apples, and Cranberries in Balsamic Dressing
Chunky Potato Salad
Pasta Salad
Orange Jello Salad with Pineapple
Chili Beans
Fresh Huge Chunk Cut Watermelon
AND . . . the birthday cake: Raspberry/Custard-filled White Cake!!
decorated with baseball items and colors. Absolutely SPLENDID!
And we are set for about a week of leftovers to eat here at work! And now . . . back to work! ACK! I could fall asleep so easily right now!
kmc posted this at: 01:39 p.m.questions/comments?
Wednesday, July 16, 2003
You ever wonder what your cat is saying? Well, it seems the creative minds at Takara Co. have devised such a tool!! I had wondered before when I had a cat what different sounds meant. But, I learned to read the “moods” of the cat! That pretty much can say it all. Their eyes are very expressive.
A friend of mine keeps sending me cat things. Yesterday was a picture of a kitten (obviously asleep); the image had been rotated 180 degrees so the once sleeping kitten on it’s back now looked like a propped kitten with a BLISSFUL grin on it’s face. What do kittens dream of ? Anyway, I just thought it was funny that I keep getting “cat messages.”
Today is going to be spectacular! It is Dana Merrill’s birthday, the president of Mesa Vineyard Management, and we are going to have a BBQ luncheon for him today! My task was to bring loaves of bread and butter and garlic. Easy enough! I am looking forward to it!!
Ta for now!
be well.
kmc posted this at: 07:05 a.m.questions/comments?
Tuesday, July 15, 2003
EMODE is like the mecca of quizzes and tests for personality fun stuff! And today I received an email asking me...
What's Your Pop Star Style?
I had never thought about it.... so, I took the test and found that I am .... (drumroll please).......
I hope the link works correctly to that. It was fun to take the quiz.... although, I don't see myself becoming a pop star any day soon. :)
kmc posted this at: 05:00 p.m.questions/comments?
Monday, July 14, 2003
Had a fantastic, very filled weekend. Friday night I managed to get myself back on the treadmill.... did a nice 45 minute uphill walk, worked up a good sweat while reading "Awareness" a book in the Osho series. Thoroughly enjoyed that! I have only just started and look forward to reading more.
Then it was off to a movie watching evening. We watched "Spirited Away"... the animation movie. Very well done! I liked the story-line, the voices which created the characters and gave them depth, the artwork was very beautiful and magical. I would definitely see it again.
Saturday I worked my first day at the massage center in Pismo. Health & Harmony Center for Wellbeing. They also have A Mother's Massage which specializes in prenatal massage care. My work for that day was primarily just figuring out the Mailing Label part of Quickbooks; so I wrote out the instructions for that as I found it. And then my other duty was to make a couple of changes to their website. :)) FUN!! It was the first time I had actually USED FrontPage. Not bad.... I liked it.
Saturday afternoon, well... early evening.... I had some assistance going to Home Depot for some pots for plants that I currently have and then purchasing an African Violet and getting a pot for that as well. I also ended up purchasing a nice houseplant that is basically just straight-leafed with ivory varigations. I forget the name of it. I had help actually getting it potted before I took it home. That was pretty nice! All in all a very fun filled day!!
Sunday was nice.... I slept in a bit!! Then headed off to the Veterinary clinic. Worked there for a better chunk of the day just doing A LOT of data entry, checking things, data entry, more checking ..... and then by 2pm I was done for the day there!
Took my computer out after work to a park that I have found that has a wireless feed that I can use! :)) So I sat there for a little while to upload some PHOTOS! And checked my email...responded to a couple. After that I decided to go check on a friend whose vehicle was decided to spring a leak. It was funny to watch the process of discovery of what was actually wrong with the vehicle. Turns out to be either the water pump or the heater core.... the heater core was eliminated.... the only thing left that it could quite possibly be then is the water pump. No fun having to make a major repair like that!! BUT, one good thing did come out of the group of people who had gathered around to watch.... BBQ!! Just a spur of the moment kind of deal.... it was fantastic!! I had made a salad that was pretty cool for a summer salad.... it had a variety of lettuces and then you could add a mixture of mango, pear and avacado to it... top with a dressing and BAM!!... yummy salad. There was a small slab of baby-back ribs from Trader Joes.... gonna go pick up some of those for home!! Delicious sauce!!! And then the main course..... Chicken marinated in this teriyaki sauce; Tri-tip beef.... I think that was just seasoned with some spices and grilled; and corn on the cob.... grilled on the bbq as well. ABSOLUTELY spectacular line of food to eat! That with a couple of Raspberry Martinis and I was set!!!
This had been a very eventful weekend! Life is definitely going very well!!
be well.... or just be!
kmc posted this at: 07:08 a.m.questions/comments?
Friday, July 11, 2003
Today feels like a convenient day.
7/11....
I have this urge to go buy a super-sized slurpee.....
kmc posted this at: 07:11 a.m.questions/comments?
Wednesday, July 9, 2003
I will continue to share the pieces of wisdom that make their way to me. This one is probably one of the best that I have learned to exemplify in my own life.
"If you return kindness for injuries received and forget both,
Those who harmed you will be punished by their own shame."
-Tirukkural 314
Excerpted from the Tirukkural, translated by Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami. Copyright Himalayan Academy Publications.
kmc posted this at: 1:00 p.m.questions/comments?
Tuesday, July 8, 2003
Went to a favorite site (note to self... add it to the upper part of the site!) ... Half A Cup Gone... notice there was a test/quizzie thing to take.... so I did it!!!! (bored?... well, maybe)... and here are my results:
How much of a pottymouth are you?
Damn! I thought I was much more colorful than just that!! But, I guess, it depends on the days.... 'cursing'.... used to be such a big issue when I was a child.... church teaches sooooo many "don't do-its"... I say f#@*ing live life.... if it comes out of the mouth.... just deal with it! If someone wants to take MY words personal.... that is THEIR choice! hehehe! Loooook!!! Another soap box that I can get onto..... today is just one of those 'preacher girl' days!!! gotta love these kinda days!!!
kmc posted this at: 04:44 p.m.questions/comments?
Tuesday, July 8, 2003
kmc posted this at: 02:49 p.m.questions/comments?
Tuesday, July 8, 2003
Touchy Subject? I was talking with someone about the Brittney Spears look on Woman magazine. The statement that started the conversation was, "You can't trust make up!" I was not understanding how that statement was meant... so it went into a further discussion. (conversation has been paraphrased due to not being able to recall the exact words used.)
"What do you mean?"
"It looks nothing like her!"
"You mean it looks nothing like the 'teen pop' image? She doesn't really look like any of the images you've seen in pictures.... it's always been make-up."
It got the conversation going onto a whole other topic of what society considers "beautiful" and how sometimes the things that people say can indirectly affect the "self-image" of those who have self-esteem issues. Like: "When you dressed up and wore make up for that holiday thing... you looked sexy!" Can be easily mistaken and translated in the head as "You only look sexy when you wear make-up and get 'dolled-up' ... otherwise it's plain-jane." Most people don't understand the effect that images and words have on others. It just got my mind (and 'mouth') going on the subject. It's hard to think of a society uniting, and yet allowing others to just be.... rather than judging "this is better than that".... what IS the better? What makes it better? Perception? All of this could be quite relative. I, for one, think that the cover of the magazine looks very pretty... more "womanly" (go figure.. it's WOMAN magazine).... granted she still looks young and stylish... but it IS very different than the "bubble-gum" image that everyone has been marketed to know. She has to grow up sometime, I guess. Which brings up another issue.... people seem to have a disposition towards CHANGE. One of the most constant things in this whole existence ... CHANGE! And people seem to fear it like it's some kind of disease.... well.... I guess, if you break down that work... DIS ... EASE.... it is a dis-ease to most people to have to change.
See.... my mind just gets going on subjects and I could just go on for hours about this ..... society is taught to judge. I am more inclined to just BE... and enjoy the positive in every situation that comes to me. If I were to judge everything that has happened to me, around me.... I would be quite miserable... I choose to be happy. Yes, I experience the pain, and sorrows just like everyone else, but I see them as lessons that bring me a new level of awareness about myself. It is all very good. Always.... all is well. Choice.
be well.... or just be.
kmc posted this at: 1:00 p.m.questions/comments?
Friday, July 4, 2003
What an incredilbe day off!!! I had a wonderful day from the moment I opened my eyes until the moment I closed them again for the day. I was able to play a little bit of Diablo... one of my vices! :) I also was able to play a bit out in the sun... took a few pictures... but forgot to recharge my batteries so that didn't last as long as I would have liked!
I was invited to go along with my friend to a party up on the Pacific Heights... a few blocks up from where I live now. It was a spectacular view of the entire beach. I am very happy that I had decided to go. A couple glasses of wine and some light salad foods... it was wonderful! I met a couple of new couples... always nice to expand your network of friends. It was nice to see Kim and Jim again too. It seems so easy to talk with Kim.... I like that ... it doesn't seem like such an effort, so time and conversation passes quickly. :)
Ah, at last the end of a beautiful day off. I had a bit of cuddling moments ... and then off to bed. I will try to get more pics at the Art in the Park in Morro Bay.... hope to hit that at a good hour and get some nice pics.
sweet dreams and as always....
be well!
kmc posted this at: 11:55 p.m.questions/comments?
Thursday, July 3, 2003
It was nice to have an early "friday".... since we have tomorrow off it felt like a typical friday at work. Lots of hustle to get everything signed, processed.... ah, the day was done!
The drive home was very warm... so by the time I got home all I wanted was a shower and then off to run some errands. I brought my computer with me to "browse on the run" :) I also tried stopping by a friend's house, but missed out.... FARMER'S MARKET... didn't think about that. So I finished my errands.... bum luck too, the things I was wanting to pick up were out... ARGH! ah well, a reason to shop again! I seemed to miss quite a few things tonight! kinda got my spirits down. Then when I got home, someone had blocked the garage, so I wasn't able to get into my parking spot IN the garage. SO, I went for a ride to Shell Beach.... thought I had a place there that I could browse, but no luck.
Just as I was heading home I got a phone call from a friend that I haven't heard from in a long while. It was great to get to catch up and chat. It's always wonderful conversation, rich with challenges and very informative things about spirituality. I could have talked for hours if it were not for my "prepaid minute limitation" :) It was absolutely splendid. I was pleased to hear that he is getting medical attention still... an accident had badly injured him back in 2001. This is where my strong beliefs in a physically fit body being able to save your life! His accident had been quite severe and he lost 60 pounds in weight... thank goodness his body had an enormous amount of high protein to utilize. He went from 205 pounds body weight down to 145 pounds.... quite a dramatic change for about 3 weeks time. Anyway, I digress, he is back to India now after having been back and forth between the States and India a couple times. It is good that he is back there. He is back in contact with his family too. This made me very happy. Not that anyone NEEDS the family structure ... but more that he is able to utilize them in his healing process. I believe that your true family is the ones that you eventually choose to be around you... what most call friends. Blood may be thicker than water.... but spirit is stronger than blood.
kmc posted this at: 11:07 p.m.questions/comments?
Wednesday, July 2, 2003
I missed a message from a very close friend…. One that I’d like to share… I do that a lot… share conversations that come to me… it makes sense to share things that mean a lot to me. So here is my message from Eberhart Kalmar:
(repeating a message I had passed to him) “Men are afraid to forget their minds, fearing to fall through the Void with nothing to stay their fall. They do not know that the Void is not really void, but the realm of the real Dharma?”
EK: But if the void is not really void, then tell me:
What is the void?
Is the void?
Can the void "is" (be)?
so can the void be, and can there be a void if the void cannot be?
When there is a void, what is it? Is it an "it"? Or can "it" exist? What exists? Does anything exists? Is existence and non-existence a paradox or are they essentials, or are the concepts useless to the actually of living, or does existence, simply, and autonomically create a void? Or is the void a perception? Or is reality, actuality, a perception? Are you a perception? Or is it me? Or is the perception of perceptions a perception?
And exactly how much of it matters?
I don't believe in the afterlife. I don't believe there is a God. The whole thing is accidental. The only thing I am reasonably sure of is that anyone who's got an ideology has stopped thinking. Whenever I hear somebody's in touch with God, I look for the exit.- Aurthur Miller Esquire Magazine
"It was, of course, a lie what you read about my religious convictions, a lie which is being systematically repeated. I do not believe in a God and I have never denied this but have expressed it clearly. If something is in me which can be called religious then it is the unbounded admiration for the structure of the world so far as our science can reveal it." [Albert Einstein, 1954, from "Albert Einstein: The Human Side", edited by Helen Dukas and Banesh Hoffman, Princeton University Press]
"I cannot conceive of a God who rewards and punishes his creatures, or has a will of the kind that we experience in ourselves. Neither can I nor would I want to conceive of an individual that survives his physical death; let feeble souls, from fear or absurd egoism, cherish such thoughts. I am satisfied with the mystery of the eternity of life and with the awareness and a glimpse of the marvelous structure...”
***********
And there ended the message... this is someone with whom I could continue long conversations like this. One topic into another... tied yet different... amazing how that works. Challenging minds conversing... wanting to contradict each other just for the challenge; to see where one really stands... to see how or if they would question themselves or be stubborn in “their own” beliefs. Like a good book..... A good friend can take the mind out of what “is” and take it into the void.
Thank you for your message to me... and the challenges that you bring.
be well.
kmc posted this at: 01:00 p.m.questions/comments?
Tuesday, July 1, 2003
It's a short work week, so this has been a crazy work week already in just two days! Looking forward to Friday. Not sure where I will end up seeing the fireworks. I got an invite to LA.... but that would be such a road trip to travel during holiday traffic. Not a big fan of that. I could always stay here at the house... the balcony upstairs has a great view of the Pismo pier which is where all of the fireworks are set off. This would be just fine for the view. The landlord is having their family over so, I don't know about being upstairs.... not really that social with them, so I feel a little awkward about being around their family. They always make me feel welcome, so I am sure it will be fine.
I am very excited, too, about my vacation time coming up at the end of this month. Erin is going to be visiting from Texas. It's going to be absolutely great to spend time together. It's been two years since I've seen her. And I was the one who made the trip to Dallas last time. So now she is making the trek my way!
I am sure I will continue to babble on and on through out the month as the time gets closer.
I had another great "wisdom" email that I would like to share here.... it's nice.... kind of like affirmations everyday:
"The ego and the Self dwell as intimate friends in the same body, like two golden birds perched in the same tree. The ego eats the sweet and sour fruits of the tree, while the Self looks on detached. For as long as you identify with the ego, you will feel joy and sorrow. But if you know you are the Self, the Lord of Life, you will be free from suffering; the supreme source of light; the supreme source of love. You will transcend duality and live in a state of Oneness." -Mundaka Upanishad
Reprinted with permission from "The Wisdom of the Hindu Gurus"
This is one of the most profound things that I have come to realize.... and also one of the most difficult things to really "put into practice"..... awareness is the first key.... but what after that? How do I bring myself to realize that the ego is to be observed..... I understand the concept and I am aware of the separation that has been created.... I just need to figure out how to be the Oneness. Without the ego though. The ego is the one who wants to BE.... but it is just an illusion. But on the subject of Oneness..... am I not also creating a duality by separating the ego... Oneness should include everything... I am the ego (and do I ever know that!!).... I am the observer.... I am the body.... I am the spirit..... but I know that I am none of these things at the same time. Hmmm..... I am in a circular thought right now. I contradict myself. I am looking for something..... but observing what? my thought for the evening.
wish me well on that one.
be well... or just be. :)
kmc posted this at: 08:55 p.m.questions/comments?
Tuesday, July 1, 2003
FINALLY! I have been trying to archive for quite a while.... I feel much better now. Ready for July journaling!!!
~smiles~
kmc posted this at: 11:35 a.m.questions/comments?
Monday, June 30, 2003
I am incredibly torn by this recent decision that the Supreme Court had made regarding California's decision to extend the statute of limitations on filing claims against an abuser. So by overturning this new law that California had passed, hundreds of priest and non-clergy alike will be "let go".... set free as if they had done nothing wrong. As if their acts towards children (as long as it has been more than a certain number of years) are forgivable with time. How ludicrous is that??? These people have damaged children and trapped them at a point in their life where they believed in safety and goodness..... that was shattered... most adults who survived this abuse (who knows the number of suicides because of this kind of abuse)...most of them have gone to counseling or sought help to get past the pain and damages.... and once they had made it past their tribulations, I believe they should always retain the right to confront and press charges against their abuser.... aka suppressor.... WHAT THE FUCK is the Supreme Court thinking??? Protect the abusers???? What justice is their in this decision? Many of the abusers ADMITTED their wrong doings.... CONFESSED that they had actually done these things they were accused of...... and now they are being set free???? THIS IS NOT RIGHT!!! Child-molesters should not get away with what they have done! Granted, I realize that KARMA will eat away at these individuals, but what about the here and now? This is when the abused has been able to step forward and stand up for themselves after being suppressed by all these childhood fears they endured..... and now the very government to whom we pay taxes..... the very salaries that we pay..... are telling us that we have no rights after a certain amount of time. FUCK THAT!!!! This decision will be overturned.... This is not right.... it is not in balance with nature.... it is not in balance with any form of energy. How fair is it to these children who have been trapped inside of these bodies being forced to grow into adults with child-like fears and suppression?
Now, here is the torn part..... I do think that people can heal and move on without vengeance or maliciousness. If these children have recognized their abuser, confronted them and expressed themselves... THEY are healing. They have made their tribulations known, albeit very embarrassing. I guess the courts do not need to be brought in since they can't handle the job of providing justice. This then leaves the abused to find their own courage and strength to move on.... to heal in their own knowledge that the abuser has been made aware of their inequity.... Karma will take care of them. If not in this lifetime, then definitely the next. Or however that person believes...ie "going to hell"..... yes, I do believe that these "priests" will also "suffer unto themselves their own sins". They have to live knowing that they took something from a child that was not theirs to take. They stole, they murdered..... that reminds me of a book that is very powerful.... Soul Murderers. It also discusses survivors of child abuse. I highly recommend it.... for both the abuser and the abused.
Well, there is my rant. I had a few things from the news that have hit me.... religions, politics.... what is the difference really?
My message to all those who feel that justice has been taken away from them:
You are well. You have faced your fears. You have won your own justice within you. Stand your ground, know your truth. As long as YOUR intent is honest and from within the True Self, then you are healed. You are well. Live now. The past is like a string that dives deep into the ocean.... if you hold onto it, it will pull you down into the darkest most unfathomable places..... but if you only touch the string to "remember" it's vibrations... then you will stay afloat in the here and now. You will never forget, but you do not have to live the pain any longer..... that is your choice.
kmc posted this at: 07:17 a.m.questions/comments?
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