Blessings, affirmations, grace, and reflection

A younger gorgeous Javier. Some might say that it's not fair since he already had a record contract and there are people just starting out. I missed him the first go around so hope it works out better for him this time.

Where do I even begin with this weekend. Full. I'm ready to sleep so will recount later.

I put up my new curtains and love them! Small changes make all the difference. Now I am ready to get an area rug and some new furniture. Also finally got AAA. It makes me feel so better knowing I have that service. My mom insisted I have AAA when I got my first car the same way you are required to have insurance. They just provide so many wonderful services - from trip planning to tow services! I have no idea how to change a tire so this definitely gives me peace of mind to know I can call a service if I should ever need it. Next on the agenda is to get a passport which they can also provide assistance getting. I am going to New Jersey for my friend's daughter's first dance recital. A friend of mine is in Anguilla at singer Amerie's (now known as Ameriie?) wedding. Can we change places?

Yes indeed! Stressed in the City: How Urban Life May Change Your Brain

Jessie J - Price Tag (feat. B.o.B.) - Official Music Video Vidéo MrMusic sélectionnée dans Musique Jessie J - Price Tag (feat. B.o.B.) - Official Music Video

Yeah! I got a raise! Still not making what I would like to make, but getting closer to it. I wish my total compensation (social security and insurance) was my salary. Getting closer to reaching my goal. **** Just did my budget and determined that I can afford to move if I reduce my student loan payments in half. I also have another year to pay my car off and my insurance rates will also drop if I don't trade in my car. I think if I hold on and maintain another year I will be in position to do bigger and better things in my life. I was hoping this year would be the year, but another year is doable. Patience is indeed a virtue.

First day of vacation and I am watching Kathy Lee and Hoda. I've got to do better!

I finally dragged into the job to finish up the loose ends today. Actually it didn't take more than a few hours to knock everything out. I am officially free...well, other than trying to hire a new assistant. Feel like I am in good shape otherwise. Definitely in better shape than I was last year this time. Trying to decide if I am going to try to do a switcharoo on "The one who broke my heart" TOWBMH. I might be able to get him to cat and car sit while I take an out of town vacation! Thinking, thinking, thinking... Now my focus is on my personal business. Cleaning, organizing, redecorating, getting a physical, finding a dentist, getting a passport, taking tests, getting the car maintained, etc, etc. etc... Yes folks, the fun just never seems to end!

Went to the beach again today. Was supposed to go into to work to finish up, but decided I'd rather spend the day on the beach. So I did! It was great! Also spent hours in Wal-Mart. Decided to spruce up the apt. since I likely won't be moving this year...not enough money saved. These people want the equivalent of 4 months rent! Crazy! Got new curtains, bathroom accessories and a runner for the foyer. Tired of the dirt that gets tracked through the apt even with taking shoes off at the door. Eventually will get a new area rug and hopefully new furniture and dishes. Haven't done anything with the place since I moved back 3 years ago! Need an upgrade after 8 years in the same place.

Not really beach weather but I think I want to go lay out on the beach with a book today.

This song says it all!

When opportunity knocks....unfortunately opportunity is passing me by. I am so exhausted today that I can't get myself going. The kind of exhaustion that has you feeling spacey. This always happens to me and I always spend the first part of my vacation trying to recoup. It would be nice to know that vacation has officially begun, but I have to finish up on Monday so that thought of relaxation has be postponed. I received an email informing me that I won't be considered for the position I am trying to move into, but they are interested in meeting me for the position I already have. I really want to move up so making a lateral move is not an option. I have enough experience to make the move I just have to find someone who will help me make that jump.

I am so tired! I worked for 6 hours until I couldn't stand up anymore. I'll have to tie up the loose ends on Monday. Bah!

Caught up on my sleep last night. I was exhausted. Slept for 6 hours then got up and did a little virtual job hunting. Just trying to get my feelers out there to see what else is out there. Yesterday left a really sour taste in my mouth. Slept soundly and now dragging to get out the door to finish up loose ends at work. Told the assistant to not worry about it since it was storming this morning. Whatever doesn't get done now will get done by the new assistant in August. I just like to be slightly ahead of the curve, but what can you do? I'm not thinking I need to pack all of my personal items separately just in case I do wind up getting an offer I can't refuse. One of the jobs I saw was an opportunity to merge into the area of focus I want to move in without having to go back to school. Change is scary but so necessary.

perhaps I am just really cranky because I tired from getting in too late last night but I am indeed pissy. When things are not structured and they should be structured it pisses me off. We had meetings all day and instead of an itinerary we were told we didn't have enough planned to warrant one. Then they proceeded to take up our whole day meeting about stuff we really didn't need to do right before we needed to take vacation. The issues that were brought off pissed a lot of people off because they were just presented without giving any actual answers or solutions or results. Them we were asked to do things at the last minute that are encroaching on our vacation time. My assistant, who really didn't need to be in these meetings since she was leaving us any way, could have been doing something else and then decided at the last minute she wasn't coming in tomorrow like she promised to wrap things up because she starts her new job. She agreed to come in the morning but I j...

Although I have been blogging more over here I have actually been spending less time on line and more time being connected to life. Today was a long but blessed day. I spent the morning celebrating the achievements of young people moving up in the world. I then had a long lunch with my assistant who is leaving to take another job. The lunch was on someone who gave us gift cards to Applebees...we have drinks and salads! Classy! I then went to Brooklyn to pick up my cousin so we could drive to New Jersey to pick up another cousin for dinner. We had dinner at The Cheesecake Factory and caught up. Then went back to Brooklyn from Jersey and then home. Whew! What a day! It is now 1:30 PM and I need to at a meeting at 9:00 AM. Guess I should call it a night.

The last time I saw you, your back was turned to me and you were walking out of my life. That was five years ago. It took you a year and half to finally reconnect to me. Now you want to recreate that moment that was lost. I don't think I have it in me to try to recreate what was lost. You will always be a part of my life, but I think our future needs to be redefined.

Wonder why it completely slipped my mind that my reports were actually due TODAY instead of on Friday.  That thought never crossed my mind as I lay on the beach yesterday. I try to be good about meeting deadlines, but that one got past me. Let me get to finishing off these last reports so I can move on with my life.

This weekend the plans were to do the usual chores and errands and get some work in. God said that wasn't happening. Saturday I wasn't feeling 100 percent so I was planning to relax. My cousin called me in the afternoon to convince me to come out to the Puerto Rican Day celebration in East Harlem. I'd never been in all the years I've lived here. It was either too hot, too cold, too rainy, I had other plans, etc. Well, this year it was too chilly and damp but I went anyway. I was not a happy camper. I could deal with the cold, but the noise and the crowds were beyond me. I was ready to go! As it turned out, by the time I found him the police were shutting it all down! It was only 5PM. In the past they would party all night. So we left and warmed up in a Starbucks in the nearby Target before heading out to get something to eat. I didn't want to eat in Harlem so we drove to New Jersey and ate at Fuddrucker's. Had never been, but heard from someone that it has good ...

I have come to realize that there are some people in life who live to be miserable. They thrive off of adversity and I am so blessed to have moved beyond a life of focusing exclusively on negativity. My life has become so rich as a result of learning to work with people I don't necessary life initially or becoming allies with people despite them snubbing or undermining me. I just came back from an event that was so hostile you could feel the tension in the air. It wasn't a warm vibe at all. People commented that they were surprised more people didn't turn out for this event, but the fact is that the people didn't turn out didn't want to be around those negative people. The committee is a group of loud boisterous people who complain about EVERYTHING! They made my life HELL last year. They are downright toxic and feed off of each others energy.  As long as they are in charge they will continue to have low turn out for their events. *shrugs*

So apparently we are coming up on our 25th year anniversary. When the hell did this happen? Facebook is the best for nostalgia. I've found a page for both the neighborhood I grew up in and my high school. Lots of good memories.  I was a melancholy child and there were bad things that happened in my life, but in retrospect it was a good life we lived. Back to the present...we have less than 2 weeks before vacation and so far so good. I hate the fact that I am losing my assistant. She is BOMB! She was promoted, then decided to interview for another job that potentially makes more money. We are all hoping she doesn't get it (selfishly) because it is better for her long term career to stay put at least another year. Everyone seems to see that except her. What can you do! Another stubborn Taurus woman trying to be self-sufficient.