Something is on my mind

I believe that we were all created equally. We all put our pants on one leg at a time.

 I am not nor have ever been impressed with what is in someone's bank account. I believe that it is what is in your heart that matters. This is how I live my life. I don't care if you are the Queen of England or the man that picks up my garbage. We are all the same. 

I had a job working in retail in a very high end mall in NJ. I was a manger in a boutique , I also worked at Nordstrom's. I understand customer service. I Believe it just being polite and kind to people. I was in the top 10% of the company for outstanding customer service.  I am telling you this so you can see my background. I had a job where I had to dress to the hilt everyday.  I know being a Mom and helping my husband with his business don't have to dress that way. 

So just need to get this off my chest.... 

I have been working with my husband for the past 2 weeks.... 

We are in the process of re painting all the lines in a very busy shopping plaza near us. 

I don't dress up to do this job as it is messy and hot. 

This is what I have learned in the last 2 days....

1.  Driving a Mercedes does not entitle you to anything. 

 You can not drive thru barricades  or wet paint. You do not have the right to be rude. Would it kill you to smile at people. 

2. Some people think they have the right to be rude to you because you are not dressed in a suit... (you get my drift right)

3. Some people  are oblivious to you even speaking to them. example; me " Excuse me Maim, that is wet paint. Please be careful not to step in it." Maim... " I know. I saw it.." Then she steps in it anyway.  

I had one man the manager of one of the stores... He needed to move his car out of the first spot (aren't those reserved for their customers anyway?) Oh well.... I went into the store he told me I would just have to wait till he was ready. ( in a condescending tone) Look, I know people are busy. I know that. But do you have to be so rude. 

I had one lady actually smile at me. (Only one all day)  I told her after I smiled back it was so nice to see her lovely smile. She said to me, "  well people are just so grumpy these days they walk around with sour pusses on their faces" 

Food for thought.... If you don't think how you behave effects anyone... guess again. If you don't think a simple smile or Thank you makes a difference, you are sadly mistaken. 

Smile at someone today. Talk to someone. I'll go as far as saying maybe unplug from your phone or ipod  and actually interact with the human population. It'll make your day brighter. I promise. 

The Streamer Frock Grosgrain Giveaway

Wow that is about all I have words for. What an amazing seamstress. Wait till you see this dress.

Go and check out her blog. Grosgrain.  Enter her giveaway. ( I never win but I am entering anyway.)

(she has beautiful photographs as well.)

The Streamer Frock Grosgrain Giveaway

1 year anniversary

Well, I can't even believe it has been a year.  This has been an interesting year to say the least.  I was going to write all the changes that have happened this year but as I sit here it is put on my heart to share with you why I started this blog in the first place. 

Last year at this time I was taking care of my Grandmother. It was her final days here on this earth. It was not an easy time. It was probably one of the most difficult things I have ever been exposed to. ( believe me I have been through a lot of adversity in my short life) I was exhausted emotionally and physically. I was had about every emotion you can think of coursing thru my veins at all times. I felt guilty, sad, angry, helpless, joy, grief... the list goes on and on. I can't tell you what it feels like knowing  that someone has almost completed their earthly journey and is about to meet their Heavenly Father. It is  surreal. 

I wasn't able to leave the house other then to go to the grocery to buy food. I was still caring for my family's needs as well. (probably not very well) So needless to say I needed some escape from what was going on inside these 4 walls....  

I found I started sewing  like a crazy person. In doing this I also started to read ... BLOGS. It helped me. I started looking forward to seeing what someone else was going thru. It took the focus off my confusion and helped me to regroup and refocus. I only was reading a couple of blogs. But that was just enough to get my mind off my circumstances. 

My Grandmother passed away June 30th last year. It was about 10 pm. My Father, Sara and I were with her when she went home to be with the Lord.  It was a day that I will never forget. She passed away 2 hours before my 35th birthday.  

I miss her so much.  I miss that I can't talk to her... hear her stories ... share "our" kids with her anymore. Funny but our little one Maddie reminds me of her so much. It is something that I wouldn't be able to say if I hadn't lived with her for that many years. I miss that I can't show her my photography and sewing and craft projects, she did an amazing job of being so supportive of everything I did. 

I love you, Gram.  I miss you. 

                                                 This is Gram and I when I was little

 

                           This is the 90th Surprise party I threw her... she was surprised! 

                                          Countless hours of playing with Sara....

                                                                  Gram & Maddie

                                                    One of the last photos I took of her. : )

                                              She is grinning at me... like she always did : )

UPDATE......

Wooo Hoooo! Alright, I have  to give you an update on my running. (I know how exciting this post is.) lol

So last night I went for my run &  I actually liked it.
Let me explain the program that I was using.... following it helps you to be able  run a 5 K in 6 weeks. The first 3 runs you brisk walk for 5 min then you run 60 seconds and walk 90 seconds alternating between the 2 for 20 min. I did that the first 2 runs. oh and I am running every other day instead of just 3 times a week. anyway you are supposed to gradually increase the time like the 90 sec run with 60 sec walk and then you work your way up to straight running for 3 miles... yada yada you get the idea.

 (I can't follow rules... I am even rebellious when it comes to running)

Last Night I didn't stop. I ran my regular run but I just kept going, kept on pushing. ( run Forest, run)  It was great! I know it was only 1.6 mile but I just started running a week ago and I could barely keep running till the 60 sec mark.  well I am able to run 1/2 of my 5 K ....

Sweet! Thanks for reading.. 

Oh and I got to take some lovely photos yesterday morning. 

These are straight out of the camera I didn't have time to edit them but I love how this one turned out.......

     Morning Glory

  

Life unexpected

Life Unexpected

Has your life ever taken a turn that was completely unexpected? Well, My life seems to be twisting and turning all over the place. IN crazy directions and I am trying to keep up. I think that Robert Frost Says exactly what I am feeling. So I will let him. 

Robert Frost (1874–1963).  Mountain Interval.  1920.

1. The Road Not Taken

TWO roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel both And be one traveler, long I stood And looked down one as far as I could To where it bent in the undergrowth;         5 Then took the other, as just as fair, And having perhaps the better claim, Because it was grassy and wanted wear; Though as for that the passing there Had worn them really about the same,         10 And both that morning equally lay In leaves no step had trodden black. Oh, I kept the first for another day! Yet knowing how way leads on to way, I doubted if I should ever come back.         15 I shall be telling this with a sigh Somewhere ages and ages hence: Two roads diverged in a wood, and I— I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.

My Aunt gave me this beautiful old water can  this week. It is gorgeous. I wish that you could feel how smooth the handle has become over years and years of use. i has taken on the most amazing patina and I love its shape,  It's curves are breathtaking.. (i know it is only a utilitarian watering can) Sometimes you need to open your eyes to seeing something ordinary in new light. 

 I have also been playing  hard at work with PhotoShop. All I can say is I am feeling very creative. It has opened up my eyes to an entirely new medium. I have to tell you when I purchased this (PS) My husband encouraged me to do so. (not sure why but he did) I went and got it brought it home and felt like I had just thrown away that money. I couldn't even figure out how to import a photo into the program. I seriously thought I would never use this... haha think again. I started to read and I am slowly figuring out how to use it. I stupidly once told someone that it was cheating to edit your pictures.... Sometimes I am a dingbat (see I can admit when I am a moron) I don't think I let anyone see my SOTC (straight out of the camera) anymore.... 

OH well... I am  going to start my day. 

one more thing.... To all my followers (all 13 of you) I began my journey of actually running this week. My goal is to run a  5K in 6 weeks. I have wanted to do this for as long as I could remember. I just couldn't get motivated. SO my husband (being the Marine that he is) encouraged me to just get out there and do it.... Even if I didn't want to.  So thanks Honey ! So I will let you know of my progress.... Here goes nothing! 

Snowstradamus 2010 A Graffitti Odessy

I am very excited for our good friend Carm aka "SNOW"

He had a solo exhibit in a beautiful gallery in Hoboken,

Snowstradamus 2010 

 Paul Vincent Studios.

Please if you live in the metropolitan area make a day off it. Get down to see it. 

It is truly inspirational. I was lucky enough to be able to attend the opening and 

also cover the event. 

It will be there all month and then a big closing party at the end...

I am really looking forward to that. 

I think my grand total of photographs was 989. WOW.... (okay it dwindled down as I began to go

through them)  but all in all I got a lot of Fabulous shots. I am still editing. I think that I nonstop edited for about 10 hours on Monday. 

 I also Got to do one of my

favorite things... People watching , YAY! Love doing that. It is the most interesting thing to me

I love watching and capturing people. Come to think of it... 

that may be one of my favorite subjects to Photograph,

 people.

So here it is .... My view on Snow's amazing work.

Enjoy. 

                            

                                                   

                                                   

and last but hardly least.... wearing heals while... Climbing up and down ladders /  kneeling down at odd angels to get good shots / standing for hours an hours..... can we all say it together... OUCH.

   By the way.. I love you Carmelo. You continue to inspire me and help 

push me to be a better & more complete artist. 

Thank you for believing in me.

 & I am so proud of you, 

Being true to 

who you

 are.

                                                       Photo Courtesy of Paul Volpe