Gifties

I love giving people things. Whether its something I made, or something like a gift basket, I just love finding something that I know a loved one would like and then surprising them with it. If I had the money, I'd give gifts more often than just holidays and birthdays.

So, let's talk about gift baskets. There is such a variety of these things, it's amazing. There are Wine Gift Baskets, Itallian Gift Baskets, Baby Gift Baskets, as well as baskets for occasions like birthdays, holidays, and get well baskets. There are baskets especially for men, and there are even very specific baskets like the Texas Gift Basket. And these days, you can find it and order it all online. Gosh, I love the Internet, it's so convenient. I can find so many things that I wouldn't even consider looking for if I didn't have the Web at my fingertips.

Remember, dear readers, it truly is better to give than to recieve!

Changes

So, I've changed my mind a bit on my moving out ambitions. Hey, I'm a woman, it's my prerogative, right? That's what I thought.

See, I've had my hopes on living in Los Angeles for a few weeks now, but it seems to be getting scarier for me with time. Changes have taken place even as far as my vacation plans this summer as well. I won't be going to Los Angeles for a weekend afterall. Now, I'll just be in the Bay Area visiting family, and the dear friend that I had planned to meet in LA is going to fly up to San Francisco for a weekend to see me. I suppose that's what has triggered this change of ideas.

I think I'd like to live in the San Francisco area instead. This is because I'd have support from nearby family, which would not only help with homesickness, I'd also have help in finding a place to live and maybe even securing a job. And that friend in Los Angeles? It won't be too hard to visit him every now and then as well.

My biggest hurdle now is coming to terms with leaving my parents here in Nebraska. It's going to be very, very hard, but I think I'll be able to do it. I hope....

Fragmented Thoughts

The twilight, the music…the tears. Why can’t people just say what they mean? Why must there be games? Waiting…even waiting is a game. Only hours have to pass before she wonders. Interpretation, so difficult. Guesses, so unfair. How is she to know what it means? Life could be so simple if we all just said what we mean. Love could be so real. Pain could be so quick. Sacrifices so easy.

Sacrifices.

What she would do for that one thing. Selfish, really, to give up something familiar for something we want so terribly. Some think the sacrifices should be even. But what good is a sacrifice if it’s balanced by another? For that one thing. She’d do anything. For his happiness. She would come to him…or she would walk away. Whatever brought contentment to the other. Emotions so complex. But that’s what makes them real.

Happy. Sad. Together they’re made real. To make a wish. To imagine. Hurt created and healed by love. To give up a seat. To give up a life. Is there really much difference? To sacrifice and to feel for yourself and another…is human.

Baby Stuff

One thing I love about having a sweet little niece (I love many things about it, I tell you!) is shopping for her. There are so many cute things out there for little kids, such as personalized baby gifts. That seems to be a popular thing, finding items like bibs and blankets with the baby's name on them. It's a great idea for showers if the expectant mother has already picked out her child's name.

If I had all the money I wanted, I'd buy my niece everything she wanted and more. Sure, material things aren't what makes a person truly happy, but it sure is a nice bonus!

Tell Me A Story

I love to read, but many times, I only have the quiet time at night, sitting in bed, to do so. I love getting caught up in a story and relating to the characters, or relating to the topic of the non-fiction work. But lately I've been getting too tired to read in bed, yet not quite tired enough to fall asleep. The solution? I'm trying out audio books of books I have already read. I feel like listening to a book I haven't read would be cheating somehow.

I just finished listening to Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. It was interesting to hear it read by another person. I enjoyed it, but the book is so familiar to me and I had the influence of the movie in my head, so I didn't enjoy it as much as I think I would have if I had only read the book once and wasn't so familiar with the movie.

Now, I'm listening to Michael Crichton's Prey. I've only read this book once, and it was months ago, so I have really been able to get into the audio version. I am familiar enough with the story to not have to listen too intently while I lay in bed, it's still new enough that I get into the story. It's a great form of relaxation.

Of course, I'll always love a good old fashioned book!

Poetry-"Let it Go"

Eyes of blue and green
They watch, these passersby
And she takes it all in, deep down in her soul.
A clash of metal in the distance
Unnoticed by all but her
It reverberates, she swears, but no one else hears it
Like a cry in her ear, dealt like a blow
But they say,
“Let it go, let it go”

The color of the sky was different that day
She couldn’t explain it
Clouds moving too quickly
In the absence of wind
Those eyes, they stare again
As she looks to the sky
It’s ending, she knows.
Again they say,
“Let it go, let it go”

With penetrating eyes,
it’s a wonder they don’t see
The end that approaches
As the tide leaves the shore.
The moon doesn’t shine in the night
And the days, they are dimming.
The change still so subtle, only she sees it grow
So they say,
“Let it go, let it go”

It’s here now, she knows.
It’s happened, it’s over, but to them it’s the same
Eyes so quick to look and so slow to see.
The hurt is inside as she copes with the loss
A tear for the mourning of change
“It’s missing,” she says
She tells them so
Yet on the wind she hears,
“Let it go, let it go”

Vacationing

I love vacations. Most of my life, the only vacation I ever took was to Winter Park, Colorado in the summer for just three or four days. It was wonderful. I loved the mountains, and staying in the same little condo every summer, it was like home away from home. But as I've grown older, I've longed for a little more adventure. Places less familiar and a little farther away. Really, I want to explore the world.

This summer I'm going to California, all by myself (this is a big deal, I've never flown alone. In fact, I've only ever flown once!) to see family, and meet an amazing friend for the first time in person. I'll be staying with relatives on this particular vacation. It's much cheaper, but maybe I'll be able to stay at an all inclusive resort some day.

It is so convenient to plan vacations these days. All you have to do is go online and you can find not only the things you need in order to plan, but great deals on hotel booking and airline tickets. You can even take virtual tours of places you'll stay, look at vibrant photos of vacation spots, and search several different airlines, cruise lines, and hotel listings for the best price. There's resources for finding things to do in the place you're vacationing, and you can even look at reviews of the available services by previous customers. It's a great thing, the Internet.

I'm hoping for a disposable income one day, so that I can not just use these awesome online resources to dream about travelling, but to actually take such trips.

Poetry-"Undone"

A moment undone.
An impossible future.
To feel, to free fall.
That rush of wind in his face.
He cares, she knows it.
Will he speak? Will he say it?
Forever isn’t so long to wait.
She for him.
He for her.
Fear is too heavy, he sinks in the sand.
He reaches for her now.
Will she take his hand?
To all but him there is no doubt she will.
A simple grasp to last a lifetime, and a ring to unite them.
Someday.
The answer to prayers, the comfort to fear.
Together if it should be so.

Spring Cleaning

This weekend my mom and I have been overhauling my room. It's pretty much been a disaster since I graduated high school. I've accumulated so much stuff, relics from life as a teenager, and mostly useless junk that I couldn't bring myself to get rid of. Until now. I'm tossing things left and right, from old thank you cards from graduation, to posters that used to grace my wall. It's all either being trashed, or being put aside for a garage sale. It's hard to do, but it feels soooo good to get all the clutter out of the way. I still feel a very slight sentimental attachment to almost everything, but I know that's temporary, and it's all part of the transition into adulthood.

Oh, it feels gooooood.

Zo-Dee-Yack

I don't really believe this astrology stuff, but the dorky blog quizzes are great time wasters...

You are 53% Scorpio

How Scorpio Are You?

Marriage and Love?

Mail order brides. I've heard about them on investigative news shows, and you probably have too. It's something I just can't fathom, "ordering" a spouse and actually expecting love to come of it. I suppose it's possible, but highly, highly unlikely.

It seems a lot of people feel like their best chance of marriage is to find themselves a russian bride. russian brides can actually be ordered off the internet these days! It's amazing. Personally, I hope to find someone the old fashion way. You know, get to know the person, fall in love, THEN marry. Seems a little more stable...

I Heart Cemeteries

That's right. I. Heart. Cemeteries.

They're so peaceful. I went to a nearby cemetery last Sunday night to look at the stars. It was amazing. I took some fun pictures and gazed at the sky through my brother's telescope. It was amazingly serene.

I need to do that again soon.

Two Quiz

Your Personality is Very Rare (INTP)

Your personality type is goofy, imaginative, relaxed, and brilliant. Only about 4% of all people have your personality, including 2% of all women and 6% of all men You are Introverted, Intuitive, Thinking, and Perceiving.

How Rare Is Your Personality?

Freelancing

I consider the work I do here on the Internet to be freelance. I write blogs and get paid, but I’m not attached to any particular company, and I’m not on a salary. For a while it was hard for me to find legitimate work on the web, but thanks to websites dedicated to job listings for freelance writers and such, I’ve managed to find work that strikes my fancy
.
One kind of site can actually list you as the work for others to hire. Another kind lists job opportunities for you, the freelancer, to apply for. And these places aren’t just for writers. They also cover categories like Programming, Design, Websites, and Business Consulting. So, if you design web pages, computer programs, etc. these places are for you as well!

Just make sure to check out each of your opportunities. Do your research, Google reviews, look up businesses with the Better Business Bureau, and never give out a credit card number for a job. A general rule of thumb is that if you have to pay to get paid work, it isn’t a legitimate opportunity.

Good luck!

One Quiz

You Are An INFJ

The Protector You live your life with integrity, originality, vision, and creativity. Independent and stubborn, you rarely stray from your vision - no matter what it is. You are an excellent listener, with almost infinite patience. You have complex, deep feelings, and you take great care to express them. You would make a great photographer, alternative medicine guru, or teacher.

What's Your Personality Type?

Ink!

Did I tell you, dear readers, that I got my first tattoo about a week ago? That's right! It's my sweet dog, Pepsi's, paw print on the back of my right shoulder! The process of getting the tattoo was fun, it barely hurt at all, and I'm really happy with the result. Here's a photo!

Silver

Money. I don’t get it! Green paper with a number on it representing value. If you ask me, I think life could be so much better if we all just lived and worked to better ourselves and our community. In return, we’d get all the stuff we need, just as long as we did our part. Utopia. I know, impossible.
So, since there’s no chance of such a world, money prevails in it’s many forms. There are people that invest in silver bullion. Money invested in money. So confusing. I can’t even fathom it. I could never invest because I just don’t get it! Monex Deposit Company says the world demand for silver is always increasing, so you should invest now. Well, I suppose if you get it, you should, yeah?
Me, I’ll just sit on the sidelines in utter bewilderment.

Life?

Moving. The more I think about it, the more I want it, and sooner. Los Angeles. A new, scary life. I really think I can do it and I really think I could be happy. Culture, people, bright weather. I could make a life. Can I do it soon? I'm working on it. Because really? I want it more than I thought I would.

...By Night

The sky was its deepest blue, as the first star made it's appearance. She lay in the wet grass, goosebumps forming on her arms as she closed her eyes and made a wish. To want, she knew, was a selfish thing, but she was only human after all. And it was him she asked for on that star. In all her life she had never known such beauty could radiate from a man, but he...well, he was special. Such a special soul, so deep, so thoughtful. She couldn't fathom the odds; him. The one. Was it possible? Was this her path to take?

The sound of ocean waves lapping against a shore. Where did it come from? She was surrounded by land, but still, the moon's reflection lit her face. She was everywhere and nowhere. How? Is this how it feels? A tear rolled down her cheek, somehow glistening in the night, and she opened her eyes. There were countless stars twinkling at her now. She must have been lying there longer than she realized. Emotions. So complex, yet so primitive. Pain and joy together, fear and wanting all at once. It was all so new.

A smile spread across her face, and she sat up, the fabric of her tee shirt sticking to her back. Time to go home, she thought. Maybe she could speak to him now, maybe she could say it. Either way, the dreaming would continue. Perhaps it's all a dream...

Spring

It seems that spring is springing and in my experience, the months will start flying by. Before you know it, it'll be May and Mother's Day will be upon you. So, what are you getting your momma for the special day?

There's the usual mothers day gifts like flowers, a cute figurine, or a book about moms. Then there's the out there stuff like a skydiving lesson or a dance class membership. I'm thinking I might go with something a little more out there this year. But that's all I can say without giving away the secret!

As far as convention goes, there really are some beautiful flowers out there for mom. Along those same lines, there are also great gift baskets as well as gourmet snacks that you can order right off the Internet to go to your mother on her day. I think the point is to bring a smile to her face, right? So, go with what feels right, what you know she'll love, because this day is all about her.

Young and Restless

For the record, I have never seen that soap opera.

I'm so very restless, dear readers. I feel so stuck here in my little bubble, in this little town that has been my home for 20 years. Still, after those 20 years...I'm a stranger in this town. I wrote in my last post about the possibility of moving to Omaha. Well, it seems that isn't going to work out for various reasons.

So, my mind has wondered further. Much further. To California. My mother is from California, and for some reason I always pictured myself ending up there. I HATE the snowy winters that come with a life in Nebraska, and I've always longed for access to the ocean. As a result, I've taken to searching the Internet for possible jobs in the Los Angeles area (dog sitting/walking, baby!) and have even browsed through roommate wanted listings.

Logically, I tell myself that such a dream is impossible, at least this year. But another part of me says that I'll never get to where I want to be without taking some chances. I'm too afraid to consider moving toward such a goal. And I'm too afraid not to.

I was sitting in the dark watching a movie tonight at my brother's church youth activity center. It was just him, me, and my dog Pepsi. I sat in a comfy chair, my feet were resting upon a bean bag, and Pepsi slept between them. An overwhelming feeling of independence came over me. I thought, I could do this, and I could be happy. An unfamiliar life in an unfamiliar place, just me and Pepsi. I think I could do it.

Still, I'm terrified. How do I go about this? Would I chicken out once it all became real? Would I be okay without my parents within arm's reach? I don't know.

But I'd like to think I could.