Which Archangel Are You?

You are Gabriel, Archangel of the West. Next to Michael, you are the only other angel mentioned in the New Testament Bible. Even though you are not cited as an archangel, you are commonly recognized as being equally powerful. In the Christian faith, you are best known as the angel who brings Mary the news of her virgin conception (Luke 1:26-38). Communicative, artistic, and diplomatic you are passionate about promoting good will and creating interpersonal relationships. Those who seek guidance in speech and better teaching skills look to you as their patron. You share an archangel feast day with Michael and Raphael on September 29.

Where Has Time Gone?

Do you ever wonder where the time has gone? In fact, it has not gone anywhere.
Time keeps coming in an endless procession, and as soon as one moment is finished, another one begins. The problem is not that time has gone away, for it has not. The problem is that you haven't made full use of it. Fortunately, that is a situation you can change right now.

When you find yourself wondering where the time has gone, understand that thought for what it truly is. It is your way of reminding yourself of how very much you can do if you simply make the commitment to do it.

Don't waste another minute regretting all the time you've wasted in the past. Resolve in this moment to put the time you now have to meaningful and rewarding use.

Fill your time with action, with love, with meaning, with purpose, with richness and with life. Instead of wondering where the time has gone, be delighted with where it takes you.

-- Ralph Marston

Live. Love. Laugh.

Life is so busy. Everytime I turn around something is happening - albeit something good - something enlightening - something groovy - but SOMETHING is always happening. Work is so incredibly busy. I am a case manager for food stamp, Medicaid and temporary cash assistance clients. With the fall of our economy, my job and my duties have tripled! Now mind you - I am a lowly paid state employee (the benefits do however ROCK). Yet, I love what I do. It's challenging and each day is always different. I'm always guaranteed a major brain workout and usually end up feeling rewarded. There are days that the system fails and rewards those who probably should not be rewarded. However, there are days when I have to really use my investigative skills and teach a client that the system does sometimes work! That's usually where the fun comes in.

Big sigh...

Life is good. It's good to love your job. It's also good to know that in five more months I will start telecommuting to work! Now that is a reward. An awesome reward.

I've changed my life. Actually, I think since I've turned 40 - the chemical makeup of my brain has changed. I'm happy. I'm content with who I am and what I have to do to remain an all around great person. I don't know what caused this change to occur - but 40 seems to have done it. I woke up one day and thought to myself - you have the power to do whatever you want to do. There is nothing stopping you. It's all about me and it's all up to me. Only I make my choices. No one else. I think God finally got through to me and embedded it in my head that no one else is going to make me happy. Only ME will make me happy. Since then I've dropped 11 pounds, had a friend join me in the best change of our life -- new eating habits, I've joined Curves and haven't missed but one day (I was sick I swear) and I actually love CURVES. I go in before work, it's right next door, I exercise and chill for a minute, clean up, dress and put on my makeup and walk to work from there. I get to measure how many inches I've lost in two weeks. But, finally I've realized - it doesn't matter how many inches or how many pounds - it's all about just being healthy and doing the right thing to remain that way. I feel so much better (low carb rocks). My energy level has increased tenfold.

In a nutshell, being 4o kicks butt. I wish I could have skipped all those years and just jumped to the here and now. I am a woman. Hear me roar!

Warning!

I had to laugh out loud when I noticed someone hollering, "helloooooo....do you ever update your blog?" Hmmm...I remember a time when it was like pulling teeth to get someone even motivated to turn on a computer, download AIM, build a MySpace page, or better yet, BLOG. I don't think she knew what BLOG meant .... say.... more than six months ago ;) Okay...maybe a year ago. And now, I'm being hollered at to blog. Blog. Blog, blog, blog. Do you really want to know my boring thoughts? Well, let's see. Today I'm motivated. I'm motivated to eat healthy and exercise. All at fukin' once hehee...I can never take baby steps...I have to take giant leaps and attempt everything at once. Nice way to set myself up for failure, right? Hell, maybe next I'll attempt to keep my laundry current, keep my house clean and put in overtime at work and run for mayor~~;)~ At least I didn't say President, huh? Not to mention I'm PMS'ing, bitchy and bloated. Hmph.

No Swimming Today...

No swimming today...it was beautiful all day while I had to sit inside and juggle one client's crisis after the next and as soon as I head out the door - impending gloom. GLOOM. Black clouds rolling across the sky. No swimming today ... no swimming today.

Updates...Updates...Updates!!

Hello :) Sorry I haven't been here in a bit. Life has definitely been super busy. Ok - not too busy because I spent the majority of my weekend in my pool LOL But, it was way more fun than being on the computer - I must admit I'm brown as a coffee bean ;0) Phil says he's starting to think I'm part Mexican. Yeah. Whatever.

Basically, back to work today - it's been very challenging lately and it's only getting harder as I go but hopefully the level of hardness will even out. But, I love a good challenge ;)

Phil is doing well. He's working just as hard as I am.

Cole is doing well in college. All A's on the tests so far. He seems to like humanities the best.

Today was the 1 year anniversary of my father-in-law's death. We truly miss him. I can't believe it's been one year. I'm going to try and get out to the cemetary this weekend and place some fall flowers on he and Corrine's gravesite. I miss my evening talks that we had out on the patio or under a shade tree. He was such a good Christian man with HUGE values and morals. I could only wish I could take after him.

Well, that's it for tonight. Reading a good book. True life crime - called - Never Enough by Joe McGinniss. Gotta get a lil' bit in before I have to read to Phil. Took an idea from you, Hez. Reading Phil The Shack :) Only on chapter 4 so maybe by next year we'll be done! LOL But he likes it so far!~

Nighty Night...

Happy Labor Day

Well, I've had a week off work and I finally feel able to go back. Hopefully this ankle and knee of mine will mend quickly. We had a WONDERFUL dinner tonight. Phil did a pork roast and home made potato salad. I did home-made brownies. Brought them hot out of the oven and put them underneath ice cream. We are both STUFFED. So, I'm off to my coccoon to hibernate. Happy Labor Day. Until Tomorrow.