Mood:  incredulous

Hello, my dear friends both old and new.  It seems that my Second Born Son is growing up before my very eyes. Happy Birthday Sweet Baby.  The thing I will remember was having 9 teenage boys trying to maneuver through the bungalow, and waking up to see three leggy kids sleeping on the couch bed with one sleeping underneath, one in the dog's beanbag chair and another four in the bedroom...too funny.

I woke up this morning after having a rather amusing dream where I was in a bed in a room with two windows and a door.  There was very bright light coming through the windows.  In the doorway I saw Thing One and Two's Dad, and with him was a brown horse that was pretty high strung.  I knew they had climbed a flight of stairs to get there.  All of a sudden the horse bolted toward me and flopped down on the bed next to me as if it were a large dog!  (I'm wondering if it isn't because Leetle Dog manages to carve out Big Space in the bed if you don't hold your ground...haha)  My dream book says that a brown horse means material gain. (Watch Your Dreams, by Ann Ree Colton-seriously the dream bible)  Ha ha...even her name has C-O-L-T...I hope the fact that it was running at me means that it is coming quickly!!!  OM.

Then I went downstairs and Thing One was laying on the couch watching Super Bowl stuff.  The Sports page was next to him on the floor and the basketball headline read "No 'D' for Trojans' H-O-R-S-E".  Guess they were trying to tell me that the Colt's were going to win, but I was still kinda hopin' for the Bears.  They are encrypted into my DNA-it's like a reflex.  I've actually never been to a Bears game, but I did manage to be at their stadium, Soldier Field, for the last two Grateful Dead shows before Jerry was recalled...I saw the Dead on L.S.D....(Lake Shore Drive-addicts!)...I imagine that was a little different than being there for the Bears.

Speaking of the Dead...The summer tour of 1995 was for sure a long strange trip, and I have it to thank for so many stories...Today I got a message from one of the characters in one of those stories...one Gary Tomaro...with the birthday 7-7-7...We met at Auburn Hills, and had no real reason to keep in touch, but every once in a while, old friends make their way back around again...Welcome back, kind brother...we are still in it together...OM!!!  Thanks to the magic of Mandalablog...bringing the world together, one stranger at a time...just to shake their hands.  Thanks for stopping by.  Be Kind.
 

Posted by mandalafly at 9:00 PM PST

Updated: Sunday, February 4, 2007 9:36 PM PST

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Mood:  happy

Red Paint,

Blue Paint.

Well, kids, after stalling for quite some time about spending the last $1000 of my business grant, push has come to shove and the kind folks at the BDC who helped make this happen for me, are telling me that I need to move it or lose it.  Sigh, such is life.

For the Blog-neo-phytes, With apologies to those of you who have heard it all before...About Two years ago I was accepted to a program that is offered to folks who are starting businesses on very little capital.  IT is not really very hard to get, and is offered all over the country.  It is called an Individual Development Account, and essentially matched funds for me over the course of a year of savings.  I saved $125 a month for about 9 months until my account reached $1335.  I then was awarded a 3:1 match of  $4000 from lottery funds!  (Thanks to all of you out there who are taxed because you can't do math, and support the lottery)  The IDA is available for three reasons, Start a Business, Buy a House, or Go to School.  (Ask about it at your local Credit Union, or Community College.)

  There are steps you have to take, and hoops you have to jump, but the process gives you the time to really think over what it is that you need, and how to move forward with your idea.  I had to write a business plan, and if you look at the blogs from last year at this time, I believe you would sense some stress over the completion of said business plan.  It took a good long time to put together, and I really pushed it, but since it was approved by the Bankers that Be, and my funds were released, I have done a good job of doing what I said that I was going to do, and keeping on track. WOOHOO! 

In addition, the momentum was enough to catapult me into finishing my Bachelor's Degree at "NikeU", something that just plain needed to be done!  Anyway...enough about my laurels, here I am resting on them when I should be hopping int the shower and getting on my way for the day

SO, last year, after spending about $4000 on supplies and fees and having my zodiac cards printed, I stopped and waited to see if anything came up that I hadn't thought of in my plan, but almost a year later, I am going forward with my original thoughts of upgrading my studio supplies, buying myself a matt cutter and a new drafting stool (since mine is steel and looks like it came from the Jr. High Art Room), and looking into a nice digital camera so I can really get good shots of my work.  This will take my studio to the next level, and I am ready!

While the moon is Full in Leo today, take a moment to reflect upon your S'elf.   Leo is the house of Self, and about being proud of who you are.  I hope that when you think about what it is you want to accomplish, it includes reflection on all of the things that you have ALREADY accomplished to get you to where you are today.  Leo is all about the Heart, and finding the Strength within ( Strength is the Tarot card for the big kitties.)  The Heart is a Sentient Being within you.  Get in touch with it and it will guide you to your dreams...GO FOR IT!!!

Posted by mandalafly at 9:48 AM PST

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Mood:  caffeinated

So, I'm reading some posts on one of the forums that I visit fairly regularly, and someone said something to the effect of "I haven't evolved past the point of feelings yet."  I'm assuming that she meant that she still felt bad sometimes, and I'm going to suggest that even the most compassionate, loving, forgiving, being, has moments that are not so blissful.  Remember,  "Jesus Wept."(John 11:35)

Seems to me that feelings are exactly why we came here to this realm of Earthly existence.  Feelings guide our souls to do what it is we are here to do.  When you begin to do things that make you feel good, keep up the good work...and pass it on!!!  When things don't feel so hot, or make you ill, the challenge is to find a way to change it for the good. 

That we are endowed with physical bodies to ride around in as we wish.  That the Great Amoeba has endowed us with See, Hear, Smell, Touch, Taste, Feel, Hurt and most of all, HEAL...is the reason to be!!!  The blessing/curse of free will is what we need to learn to get a handle on.  Are you using yours for good or evil? 

Depends a lot on perspective.  Raise your expectations and Rise Above.  

Sometimes the light's all shinin' on meeeeeee..............Other times I can barely seeeeeeeeeeeeee...Lately it occurs to meeeeeeeeeeee....Long Strange Trip is an understatement............  :-P

Posted by mandalafly at 9:35 AM PST

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Mood:  caffeinated

Somehow, Caught up in a swirling vortex of energy exchange, I neglected to mention that Saturday was the TWO YEAR ANNIVERSARY BLOG!!!  Maybe that's because I was not near my computer on Saturday due to the fact that I got attuned to the "Karmic Channel" and started working on learning the signs and symbols that specifically target karmic ailments such as diabetes, psoriasis, as well as specific body parts and functions.  This hands on healing stuff seems contrary to what we learn, but as I feel it building in my body, and the effects of it on my energy field, and people who come in contact with me, I can tell you that there is something very positive happening in all areas of my life. 

S aturday Night I also did a Tarot party, and it confirmed to me that I need to write the book called (have I mentioned this before)  "Now That You have Met Mr./Ms. Right, Whose Turn Is It To Do The Dishes?"  It seems to me that people think about the lovey dovey part of marriage and partnerships, and not think about the "honey, take out the trash, please" part of them.  Add to that the number of people who get married before they even experience the issues that are involved with running a household, and taking care of themselves.  Many people do not know where they end and their spouse begins, and somehow that is their partner's fault.  I keep thinking that it all comes down to not making mountains out of laundry, and dishes...and making yourself feel the beauty of daily routines.  It is a blessing to have a home to have to clean.  

On that note, in the interest of confirming that happiness IS possible, I just have to say that I am thankful for Babboo, because between the two of us we have been able to create reasonable expectations, and allow room for growth.  I am thankful for Babbo because he works very hard to help me to be able to make this business venture a reality.  I am thankful for Babboo because he is calm, cool, and collected,(and, should I mention CUTE?)  I am thankful that I found someone who can live with my pile of books at the end of the couch, and my drawing table in the dining room.  I am thankful for my whole house full of BOYS!  (I am outnumbered, but not easily outsmarted...)

As for you, maybe if you get a chance, think about how you can show that you are thankful for the people in your life that you get to care for, and especially don'f forget to take care for your S'ELF.  You are the one you have to live with FOREVER...be nice!  And have a great day.

Posted by mandalafly at 10:40 AM PST

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Mood:  incredulous

HOT BLIGGETY BLOG-y'ALLLLL.....

iF ui TOLD yOU wHAT ON eARHT ui HAVE BEEEN UP TOl  latEKLY, i DoUBT THAT YOUh WHoiuLD BEjLEIiVE ME AND ui MiGHT WONDDIER IF the IF AND whEN, BECOMEeS the how AND wHy, OF WHere...wHat WHOUld ui Do???

JUst cHECkING.

Posted by mandalafly at 9:45 PM PST

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Mood:  cheeky

So-here I am, it was a friend of mine's birthday last week and we were getting together tonite, and we decide on "Conchita's Burrita's" (name has been changed to protect the guilty), the place from which I will be celebrating my one year of freedom from on the 29th of this very month.  I walk in and the guy who took my place is changing lightbulbs in the lobby, and he breaks one and all the lights in the immediate area go out as the circuit breaks...

should have been a sign...(you'd think I'd get it by now!)

Anyway, I make my way to the table to meet my friend the cakemaker, and am immediately greeted by one of the managers who slides into the booth and effectively traps me to ask me if it was possible that I would come back and work  "1 or 2 days a week." 

HAHAHAHA...FAMOUS LAST WORDS...this is the restaurant business we are talking about, people...1 or 2 shifts does not take long to morph into a full time+ schedule...and I have most definately DONE MY TIME...and probably some of yours to boot...

Thanks for thinking of me, but so far...even though I had to go without my beloved cable internet service for a full FIVE days...I still find myself feeling as though I am on the right track, and gaining momentum daily...Thank You, Great Amoeba, and all of you Amoebites who believe in my artistic creations...

I do believe in mandalas...I DO, I DO!!!  (and Reiki too!!!)

Posted by mandalafly at 12:01 AM PST

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Mood:  party time!

I am reminded that today is the birthday of not one, but TWO boys that were at one time, or another were candidates for the position of Babboo...One was born in Oregon and now lives in Illinois (Normal-where I dated him before I moved here) and One was born in Illinois and now lives in Oregon (where I dated him after I moved here)---Some of you may be familiar...but for the Neophyte-bloglodyte...The first one's last name is Ray,-so he was my "Mr.Ray" (get it?), but now he's my EX-Ray...the second one I met here while I was working with him (and "coincidently?"a guy named Ray...) but it only lasted a short while and he started dating the other Michelle at work to whom he is now married...

The bus came by, and I got on...that's when it all began...

Happy Birthday, TWO you....

Posted by mandalafly at 9:45 PM PST

Updated: Thursday, January 18, 2007 9:48 PM PST

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Mood:  lucky

..."I can't complain but sometimes I still do"...

Apparently Babboo and I have been having quite the nightlife...we showed up in Mrs. Random's (http://mrs-random.blogspot.com) dream and were with her thinking about planning what to do this spring in her garden.  She said something about she was fretting about what to tell us to do, because she hadn't planned anything yet---(exhibiting the true nature of the Virgo personality...PLAN AHEAD!!!)  Meanwhile I apparently tell her something to the effect of..."let's wing it" (ok the actual quote is "Oh well, -we'll just get started with something and we'll see where it goes.") 

I just have to say...she's onto me...I'm all for making plans, I've got my fair share of Virgo in my chart, and a Virgo son to boot (NO, I haven't booted my son...gads, people!)  I know how it's done,(making plans, not booting my son, although that probably wouldn't be so hard to figure out...) but I also have learned several things about making plans...

1.  Plans are a guideline, not a rulebook.

2.  Plans can change.

3.  The Devil can mess with even the best laid plans...and I personally think "he" specifically chooses the good ones to mess with the most...why invite trouble?

While I am writing this a friend calls me from Chicago and gives me the low down on the conversation she PLANS on NOT having, with the boy who should NOT call her, but if she does, she is going to say something, to which he will respond with something else, and then she will remind him of why she is always right, and how he always screws up the part where they just have a rational relationship, because she's ALSO a committo-phobe (her words), just like him, and they like it that way, and even though the PLAN also includes not having any "relations" with said boy, they will ultimately ending up doing so, against her better judgement, and I am reminded how much fun I thought it was when I was at the stage where I invited this kind of trouble...OOH!!!  The DEVIL made me do it!!!! ( Thank the Great Amoeba that my Angel Babboo showed up and we are, so far, mostly saving each other from ourselves...or something to that effect).

And then there was my trip to Salem...to talk to the committee about the difference between Business PLANS, and Business PEOPLE...and how to get that across to the folks in Washington who approve whether we get funded or not...

Roll it all up into a ball and it coincides with the New Moon in Capricorn, which is about Career, and it tells me that it is a good time to review our plans for the coming year, and make the necessary adjustments to allow for the LIFE part of our plans...as for me, I will leave you with this quote from Charles (Curtis Armstrong), in the movie Better Off Dead.  As his best friend Lane (John Cusack) contemplates how he is going to ski the K12 run, Charles says "Go that way, real fast.  If something gets in your way, TURN!"

AmoebaSpeed...my little Bloglodytes...thanks for watching!

Posted by mandalafly at 4:11 PM PST

Updated: Thursday, January 18, 2007 9:29 PM PST

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