It's a wrap!

, . . the month of August, I mean!

I can't BELIEVE how fast this month has flown . . . . even for the unemployed!

But, not here to talk about my lack of job, today! Nope, I'm here to brag . . . . . about my little*** nephew, Chase!

He plays on the varsity football team, for Mesa High School ... . . go Jackrabbits!! Anyway, they had their first game last Friday, and HE, apparently, was one of the stars of the show! They won, and he made some people (besides the boys he knocked over!!) stand up and take notice!

http://www.azcentral.com/video/?type=mavenfull&id=mavensingle&videoID=1231787750

And then, in Sunday's paper, we read this: http://www.azcentral.com/php-bin/clicktrack/email.php/8910399 ***Did you notice the height and weight on this man-child??? I was being TOTALLY facetious when I said "little"!!

Breakthrough!

Tonight I had a breakthrough - call it emotional, spiritual, or diabolical! I went to a Professional Business Networking meeting sponsored by Employment Services of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

I didn't really want to go . . . I had been on the computer earlier, and applied for some jobs . . . wasn't that enough?? Then, upon further thought, I realized that I need to do ALL I can, to find a job, and be pro-active in any possible way that I can. So, I went!

After a brief "Me in 30 Seconds" from everyone (there were about 30 people there!), we heard from a guest, Dr. Dennis Deaton, of Quma Learning. He was AMAZING!!!! (Sorry . . . I couldn't make the link work!!) His company does workshops on thought processes, and how much control we have over our thoughts; and how people can make their thoughts positively affect their jobs, their health and their lives.

I have to say that I had no idea how much I was inhibiting my own success. And I truly needed to be reminded how much my Heavenly Father loves me, and WANTS me to be happy!

A few weeks ago, a friend from high school, (who, thanks to FaceBook, I have reconnected with!) told me about his own experience with MAKING his own success! He said, "I had $7 in my pocket, and a desire to show everyone who said I couldn't, that I could be a success!" I was inspired by his drive and sorta wished I had some of that drive. Well, tonight I discovered, or should I say, RE-discovered, that drive for myself, and I WANT to be a success at what I want to do - my job will NOT define me, and I will do what I WANT TO DO, to 1) provide for myself/family and 2) Make a difference in the lives of others.

I am the one who is in control of my attitude -- NOBODY else! So, I'm gonna be busy cleaning out the cobwebs in my thought control center . . . No more room for doom and gloom! And, I have taken some wishes and written them down . . . NOW they are goals!! AND, I have a timeline for accomplishing them! Go ME!!!

Happy Birthday and Surprise!

So, Sunday was Jorge's birthday - he decided that he is going backwards, so he is now 48 . . . again! The poor man - he worked Saturday night, and then came home to try to sleep for a while, before church. Every time he would get to sleep, his phone would ring, with a call from another friend or loved one, wishing him "Happy Birthday!" But, he loved hearing from everyone!

After church, we were headed to my sister's house for dinner: Chicken enchiladas, salad, chips and salsa, and some amazing vegetable medley, with cheesecake for the birthday boys! (My brother, Jeremy, had his birthday on Saturday!)

So, we had finished dinner, and the door opens- in walks DeAwna, my sister who lives in Denver, CO! My mom's face was PRICELESS - she almost dropped her jaw on the floor!!

DeAwna had decided that she REALLY needed a vacation, and she wanted to see a comedy show with some friends, and she DROVE (the craziest part!) from Denver, to spend a week in the oven . . . er, Mesa, AZ.

It was supposed to be a surprise for ALL of us, except my sister, Karalee, and her BFF, Megan. But, she caved a couple of weeks ago, and told me about it! It is good to see her, and since I currently have no job, I will be able to spend more time with her, this visit.

Oh, and I got to give HER a surprise .... . I am making her a memorial album of her first and oldest dog, Shasta. (See my blog entry for 8/01/09) My niece, MaiCee and I spent 3 hours looking through my collection of photos and scrapbooks to come up with decent amount of photos! The coolest part is that I found photos of her with ALMOST all of my nieces and nephews! She loved the kids!


Ya, we stayed up until 2 am last night . . . . I am really starting to feel it! {YAWN!!}

WORLD - REVOLVING AROUND . . . .

. . . apparently EVERYONE but me!!

I had an interesting experience today - and I say "interesting" for 2 reasons:
1. I could've gone ballistic and turned into mega-beast
2. I cannot believe people sometimes . . . it never ceases to surprise me, nonetheless!

Okay, so, I was baby-sitting my cousin's daughters today, while he met with some clients, and then he called and said that he had a job interview, and could I possibly stay? I told him that I was fine with that, but I needed to run a couple of errands, and then come back to his house.

So, I ran {really, I drove my car, but you know what I mean!!} to Wal Mart, to pick up Jorge's Rx. Silly me!! I forgot that they close for lunch, when there is only one pharmacist on duty . . . which was apparently the case today! But, there was a regular Wal Mart worker there, and I asked her when they would re-open. She replied, "2:00 o'clock!" Then she walked away.
Well, it was 1:58 pm, so I had 2 minutes to wait.

Meanwhile, I am being patient and waiting in the "pick up" line. And, this older gentleman walks up to the drop-off window . . . and of course was very disappointed to see that they were closed. Being a kind stranger, I quickly informed the gentleman and his daughter that they were about to open in 2 minutes.

So the time quickly past and the pharmacist began opening the door and windows to the pharmacy. She approached the "drop off" window, after she opened them both. And, if it were me, being the one standing at that window, I would've said, "Oh, that person over there was here first. Maybe you should help her first." But . . . . NO!! The gentleman {obviously a term used very loosely here!!} didn't say a word and proceeded to place his order with her.

Considering others seems to have become something that is lost, these days! I was in line first . . . and like I said, I could've gone ballistic about it! Instead I will file this in my "life's experiences" file, as a reminder to consider others AT ALL TIMES!

I will say that little things like this can make a huge difference in people's lives . . . . let's all consider our brothers and sisters in the world, huh???

Whew - 2 soap box sessions in a row . . . .

No one ever . . . is to blame!

Ya, that IS a line from a Howard Jones song! I'm not really sure that I understand what that song is about, but to me, that line is not true!

However, I am NOT someone who sits around trying to blame someone! Yesterday, I watched the movie "Breach" . . . didn't know what the subject matter was, and really there weren't any BIG Hollywood names in it. But, it was based on a true story, and it was good - not in some "Entertain me and make me laugh" way, but informative and interesting.

Anyway, the point of bringing up that movie is this; one quote from the movie was this "At the the end of the day the "WHY??" doesn't matter! You're still who you are!" Yep, I agree WHOLEHEARTEDLY with that!!

Why did she turn to prostitution for herself and her daughters?? Doesn't matter, she still made the choice! Why did he sell drugs and have to go to jail?? Doesn't matter, he made that choice!
Why do people lie and hurt others? Doesn't matter, they make their choices.

I'm approaching the soapbox again, people, but I have to . . . . vent, if you will, for a bit! And hey, this is MY blog, so, here I go!!

I firmly believe that ALL people, regardless of religion, political party or sexual orientation, are born with a sense of right and wrong. I think that this sense gets lost in the confusion, for many of us, but I feel that it is there. Knowing my Heavenly Father the way that I do, I can say that He has given us ALL that gift, not just a few of us.

So, having said that, I must tie the two ideas together --
* Ya, your mom might be a psycho about shopping, and always spent the food money on"stuff", but that DOESN'T mean you get to blame her for your eating disorder!

*Ya, your dad might have been {or still is!!} a workaholic, but that doesn't mean that you get to play the "you should feel guilty and enable my bad habits" card for the rest of your life!

*Ya, the kids were mean to you in 4th and 5th grade, but that doesn't mean that you get to be a BEAST to the rest of the world for the rest of your life!

*Ya, your parents didn't communicate well with each other, but that doesn't mean that you get to have a husband/wife that you're not happy with, and still have a significant other on the side!

I will be the FIRST to tell you all, as I have said before, that I am FAR from perfect, but I don't sit around looking for someone to blame! At work, at home, or anywhere else! It is counter-productive, and it just creates more hate!

Let's all stop blaming others - from family members to local/national politicians, and try to work it out! We can all find the best way to be human beings together on this little planet, if we stop blaming and criticizing and start suggesting ways to make it a better place. And THEN do the work that it takes to change it!

Okay, I'm done now . . . ♥ ♥ ♥

We Love You, Shasta!

Today our family, and especially Shasta's mom, DeAwna, bids farewell to this soul that has truly been part of the family! Even though she moved away 4 years ago, to Colorado, we still think about her and love her. Now we will miss her that much more!

She came to our family because DeAwna is an animal lover and rescued her from a shelter . . . I think she was at the County pound. Anyway, that was 15 years ago . . . and she walked all over our hearts from day one!

She was always so patient with all the children, from infants on up, that wanted to climb on her, pet her, pull her tail, and drag her around on a leash. Many of the Bailey family grandkids have memories of her . . .

DeAwna, I wanted to write you a poem, but these things can't be forced, you know?? So, I found this quote, and then I will recycle a poem that I wrote 18 years ago, that I think fits this situation well.

"Dogs are our link to paradise. They don't know evil or jealousy or discontent. To sit with a dog on a hillside on a glorious afternoon is to be back in Eden, where doing nothing was not boring--it was peace."
Milan Kundera

Picking up the pieces

Of what life used to be

A soft, yet brilliant, memory

Rushes back to me.

A moment full of laughter

And then a time of trial;

Quickly memories come

Bringing tears, and then a smile.

So many memories

To help heal the empty pain

To keep loved ones near the heart

Til we're safely together again.

Tears fall on the pictures

That I see in my mind's eye.

Can I possibly go on?

Memories give me strength to try.

- Kaelene B Zapata, 1991

We love you, Shasta! Go to your eternal rest and know that we look forward to seeing you again someday!