Angelica

I spent most of this weekend cleaning which is something I rarely do. I have been feeling this need to purge items and to have less things. Most people feel this way in spring, but it seems to hit me right as winter comes every year. I have always had dreams about big catastrophic events happening and me having to pack up my loved ones and items into some giant dream vehicle or some magic bag and escaping. Maybe this is seeping into my reality and making me feel like I need to have less to take. There is a part of me that wants to come out and it is buried underneath all those things. Maybe with more of the space cleared there will be no excuse to hide.

It is interesting to see how I have changed yet alot of my likes still remain the same. I miss reading many of the journals here, so I think I will be here more often. Maybe this time I will make more posts and maybe post some pics ;). For now I will post one of my favorite pics of two of my babies:

Just tired lately. A little melancholy at times. I want to feel that magical spark in the air again. Feel that weird feeling you get from a certain painting or story. You know what I mean? That feeling that transports you elsewhere, makes you believe in magic again. I think I have had my time filled with to many mundane things to do. Required non-fiction readings and tests are taking their toll. Sure there are these small peaks of contentment when I am surrounded by my furry kids and James. I get breaks in-between, but I always seem to be so drained when they come. The time seems to go very quickly on those days or there is something I have to do soon after that fills my thoughts while trying to enjoy the time.
Must remember this will all be done by next Spring.

I am going to see H.I.M in Atlanta and Aiden is opening for them!! I really hope I get to take some pictures maybe even meet both bands. ^-^!!

I am feeling kind of lost lately. School and work occupy most of my time and on my free time I feel like I don't know what I want to be doing. I used to read, go to movies, go out for coffee or tea and have long conversations with my cousin. Since she moved I don't really see much of anyone else except of course for James. The thing is that James is a bit of a hermit and doesn't like doing much outside the house. The few friends that are still in Tallahassee that I still have contact with it seems have either different interests going on or no time to do much. I seem to be working out more often. I guess I just have to get used to doing things by myself until I finish my degree and can move from here. I also have been pondering what in the world I will be doing with said degree. I still have that book calling to me, but I keep saying after my degree I will have time to get to it. I must keep my word to myself on that one. On the bright side I only have until mid next year to finish my bachelors and then I am free to move on elsewhere. I guess a little exercise and alone time never hurt anyone.

I know I have been absent for a while. Quite a few things were going on this past Fall in my life. First off it was my first semester at Flaglar going three nights a week for 3 hours each plus also my full time job. Before that I earned my AA mainly online and that was much easier. I basically ended the semester exhausted but at least I got 2 As and 2 Bs so not to bad for a first term. During the end of the year my parents got hit with hurricane Wilma and their apartment luckily didn't get to damaged. The problem was that they were out of work for almost 2 weeks and had no electricity during that time. Financially it couldn't of hit them at a worse time since they are trying to buy a Condo/apt. I ended up sending them some money since I didn't want them to lose the contract. I was lucky I had a credit card with the funds O_O. I felt really good about being able to help them since one of my dreams is to eventually get them a house. If I am unable to make that dream come true at least I know I helped them with this one. Also, during the end of last year my cousin, who is like my sister and best friend to me, got a divorce and moved to Arizona at the end of December. I really miss her and all our conversations over coffee. I feel like it is almost time for me to move too. I know I will probably will after my degree in 2007. Luckily James is fine with us moving. Where we will move I still am not sure off. I want to visit Cecilia and see what the desert is like. I also miss the ocean yet I don't want to be to far away from the forest.

Not to much has been going on. My kitty Kermi ended up having a bladder infection so I took her in on Tuesday to get checked out. Indeed it was an infection and now she is on Clavamox. Luckily it had nothing to do with her stomach/intestines like what she had to go through when she was younger. I have been considering pet insurance, but the prices are high for 6 pets O_O! Maybe I should just get it on Kermi :P. No, then I think she would get ill just cause I got it *lol*.
I am still in the long process of finishing my art/library room closet clean up. I will hopefully be done with it by mid-August when school starts. Organizational furniture is expensive! I got 3 three drawer plastic carts on wheels for the magazines and two big lidded bins for the toys/stuffed animals only to then find out that I would need about 3 more carts and 3 more bins. I have way to many toys and magazines! I am glad I don't have to purchase any books shelves huge book collection. I guess it was good I didn't go towards the nice wooden furniture route since I know now I would definitely not be able to afford that. Well, at least it is a closet so I guess it can be less fancy.
I have also spent all my free time reading like a maniac since I know I will not have this much free time when I start school. I normally try to read at least a couple of books a week but now I am up to somewhere around 6 a week. You see I was running out of books to read and I discovered the wonders of a library card so I have checking books out like crazy.
My job has been driving me nuts and I am starting to find it hard to want to get up in the mornings. I think I just need a vacation or maybe just a break.

Had to do it- I love My little Pony!
You Are Subversion!
You are systematic and secretive. Sometimes even very calculating. Most everyone trusts you but they have no idea what really goes on in your head. You are capable of being nice or mean, whatever a situation calls for. You look out for #1.

What Naughty My Little Pony Are You?

Although I haven't posted in a while I have been trying to keep up with all my friends entries. Nothing new has been happening. My work has been slow so I have been able to be online alot. I guess I could have posted earlier, but sometimes I feel I might just have nothing to say. I am looking forward to school starting and I am looking forward to finally organizing my house how I want it before school starts. My sweet in-laws are getting our bottom floor done with wood laminate. Very helpful when you have 6 pets O_O! The carpet we have just isn't cutting it. I have been on and off on my raw food diet, but I think the times I am off I really notice the changes in me. Same with thing happens when I don't do my Tae Bo :P. I seem to get more depressed and upset with myself. I think it is a matter of engraving it my head. I have been trying to look inward more to. It seems that I used to be a much more spiritual person before and now I just don't get in touch with that part of me. I haven't meditated or focused on myself in a long time. With the very busy schedule that I will have when school starts again & this full time job I think I need to be more grounded otherwise I am bound to get lost. I have millions of pics of my cute furry kids that I need to post soon. I just got a Flickr(is that the name?) account so I will upload some soon. I really enjoy keeping a journal so maybe I will have to just post random things even if they don't make sense to everyone.

Stole it off of martianmermaid cuz it was cute :P!  Rosey is actually my fave & I am glad I have one.


ROSEY RED


Which kind of blythe are you?
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A few new things are going on.  Let's see- I got my AA finally and I am considering a business degree maybe even teaching elementary school.  I was originally going for a elementary education degree, but with my full time job I cannot do all the inschool teaching.  I did find a night time business degree program that I can do and finish in 5 semesters.  So, I think I will do it starting Fall and then I will see about teaching certification later or go for a masters in Library Sciences(my other interest-plus FSU has an online masters) or Education.  I at least feel like I have accomplished something and have some direction.
I have also been working on a drawing/painting-FINALLY-heeheee- but while I am trying to convert her into an acrylic painting I am feeling kind of disappointed at the results.  I am actually considering making her a watercolour.  I am kind of new at painting so the sketch looks better then the results so far O_O.  But I will still practice with both since color will be better in the end.
I have also been agravated at work still and I have been considering getting another job at times.  Who knows.  My moods with this place change all the time.
My 5 year anniversary is approaching and I am still in shock since I never thought I would be married *lol*.  I think it just keeps getting better though.  We had some rough spots throughout each year, but this last year has seemed better then the last ones.
I am also considering getting a paid account and re-doing my journal a bit.  Maybe some scary pic of me :P.
I hope after my degree is done I can find a better job and , I don't know, maybe have found out more about myself.  I feel lost at times about which direction I should go.  I feel really cluttered lately both mentally and with the crap in my house.  I really need to clean and get rid of stuff before the Fall comes and I am to busy with no life do to school.  I have realized that I am constantly collecting so much crap and just storing it away like I am really going to use it later.  I mean really, there are clothes that don't fit me anymore (or my style has changed), there are books and magazines just piled away that I will probably never open again.  I feel that if maybe the objects around me were in some order then maybe my mind would feel more free to unclutter the inside.  I know that sounds a bit strange.

I've been busy at work.  I have been craving painting alot but instead of paper I want to paint my walls O_O.  I am thinking of doing a small mural in my art/doll/library room and maybe one on the bathroom door.  I have been listening to the new Tori Amos cd and I love it.  In fact there was a pic of Tori in the booklet were she was standing in front of a door/wall and there was this mural behind her of a huge green plant and I was kind of thinking along those lines for my bathroom.  I have also been working out like crazy.  I had a hard time doing so in winter but now that it is getting warmer I feel the need to move around.  That is all for now since the phones are about to start ringing over here, but I will try to post soon. 

I finally finished my AA!  Now I just have to go apply for it.  Now the question is whether I want to get a bachelors or just get computer certifications.  I think my ultimate goal would be to work at a job part time that paid well and then do the things I love on the side (drawing, writting..).  Work has been hell- I think I feel like killing my co-workers sometimes (will fill in later). 
As for my dolls- I am thinking of maybe selling another one or two of my Blythes.  They just seem to not get much attention from me.  Especially the ones still in the box O_O.  I also would really love to have enough money to get another BJD ( a Kira and/or Lishe).  Of course that will probably only happen if I sell a few of my things.
I am also finally getting more into drawing and I am beginning to crave it like I use to a long time ago.  Good time since I am out of school atleast until August. I started a drawing out that when finished I would like to scan to transfer it to some watercolor paper and finally crack open my watercolors.  I have been reading about the life and painting of Leonora Carrington and Remedios Varo.  Although I still crave fantasy I am facinated by the Surreal world.  It really is helping me to get away from seeing art in such a restricted way as far as how I use to create it.  I am getting so many new wonderful ideas.  I think I will write some down for the times that I am lost at what to work on.
Raw stuff:
Health wise I have been doing the best I can with raw & finally feel like I am getting there.  I was doing good for a couple of weeks then I went back to mostly cooked, but now for the past week or so I have been doing pretty good.  I made the Avo soup from "The Complete Book of Raw".  It was pretty tasty and I added red peppers to it although the recipe didn't call for it.  I also noticed I have enough ingredients to try another soup from there- Blended Salad Soup. I have a dehydrator that I got for x-mas but I still haven't used it.  I really want to make some simple raw cookies.  I feel like I really need to get a food processor soon too.  I want a Vitamix, but I don't have that kind of money so I think I will settle for the processor for now.  I think I need to keep making new things and find recipes I like in order to make it easier to stay more raw.  I know that I might never be 100%, but I would like to be atleast 80-90% with days that I am fully raw ( I don't see myself giving up my lattes yet!).  I think the hardest thing too is getting all the ingredients together at one time for alot of the recipes.  I think I might end up starting a seperate raw journal eventually.

Sorry I haven't been on LJ to much lately.  I went away at the end of Dec./beg. of Jan. to see my parents in Fort Lauderdale for X-mas and my birthday.  The trip was good although my husband hates Fort Lauderdale.  Then I came back to work and it has been busy with students wanting to drop/add classes and problems etc.  Plus I am trying to hurry up and finish my Child Development class since I have to have it all completed by Feb. 8th. and I just took the 3rd test and have the 4th and final to go.  I have been checking in though and trying to reply but mostly reading everyones entries when I get a free moment.  Not much new.  I will have way more time once this class ends since it is the last for my AA and then I don't plan on transferring to FSU until Fall.  I have plans to focus on more creative things like art and writting and I just got a new desk yesterday which will be perfect.  I hope everyone is doing well in LJ land and that everyone enjoyed their holidays too ^_^!

Not much has been happening. My Thansgiving was good and I am happy that classes are almost over.  I have been bad on my Raw diet due to the holidays but I knew I would be.  Ah, I can see some new years resolutions coming on..  I was happy financially since we were getting a bonus & yes we still are, but now I just found out that we have a huge mortgage escrow amount to pay.  Oh, well at least we have the money due to the bonus.  I was hoping to save some of it for my dolly obsession.  Speaking of which I finally got off my butt and took a few quick pictures and put them in a yahoo album.  My two girls still have no clothes with the exception of a very lovely top from Anika & some CP sneakers *lol*.  I am hoping to get a sewing machine soon and also commision an outfit for each.  My girls were a bit upset about my background option to, but hey these were very quick pics I told them.  So here is the link and I will be taking more pics soon of them and my pets and if I get brave I will sneak one of me too:
Warning some dolly nudity ^_^
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/black_angel44/album?.dir=2617&.src=ph&store=&prodid=&.done=http%3a//photos.yahoo.com/ph//my_photos

I know it has been a bit since I posted.  Lets see my computer got fixed, I received my watercolors & also ink for my printer.  So, did I get to take pics of my girls or reference shots- no.  We somehow managed to misplace the power cable/cord to the printer and I had to email Epson to see how we could buy one from them.  Hopefully soon I will get a reply because I am itching to paint & to post some pics of my furries & dolls. 

Food stuff:
In other news I have decided to give the Raw food diet a try.  I don't know if I will ever get to 100% raw, but atleast since Saturday I have been eating raw veggies, raw fruit , dried fruit & raw nuts.  I was bad though since I did have a few Chais & coffees.  I think the hardest thing will be my drinks and cheese.  That is why I think in the beginning I will keep my drinks and who knows I might incorporate a little cheese in there just so I don't really mess up elsewhere on the diet.  I also considered making a protein shake in the morning instead of coffee since it would be healthier for now & I seem to be the hungriest then.  I noticed on the weekend I was fine early in the morning, but that is because "early" isn't 6:00am in the morning like it is Mon-Fri.  All my friends & family think I am crazy to try this.  I think the whole idea of eating raw sounds right and I really hope to someday beat my thyroid disease.

Happy Birthday alohashark!  I hope you & Balto have a better half of the day ^_^!

So, some nutcase gets on one of the buses that runs students around campus here at my job at FSU & gets on his cellphone with his girlfriend then gets mad at the conversation he was having & threatens her by saying outloud that he has a bomb & is going to blow up the bus.  The girlfriend at the other end calls the police & they come along with the bomb squad.  Well, they manage to pull everyone out of the bus & handcuff the guy.  They also found a handgun in his bag.  That must have been one serious fight.  I swear I sometimes wonder what is going through some people's heads.  There goes his college career....

As for my own news I finally got a digital camera, but now our computer got some horrible virus that won't allow us to get past the select user screen.  So, I will have to wait until James' figures out a way to fix it.  I really hope we don't end up having to buy a new operating system and/or hard drive.  As soon as it is fixed I will post pics of all the furry ones (well none furry in Keva the daschund's case).

So, Ivan went through yesterday & we luckily only got the edges.  Yet a really huge double trunk tree in our yard fell & broke our fence, the neighbors fence & manged to fall on one of their cars.  The good thing was that their no one got hurt & neither of the houses got hurt (I was really worried since their doggies were in the yard at the time).  It also worked to my neighbors' advantage since  they were about to give their car to GoodWill anyways & now they are getting book value for it.  Now we just have to wait until the home insurance people come out & that could take a longtime since I am sure we are at the bottom of their list.  So, the tree will just sit there since it is to huge to move without proper equipment.  I say that nature is out for me since not to long ago I had a branch fall on my car & wreck the whole front, then during Frances a thin pine tree broke in half & fell in our yard & now this.  Of course I do realize that I am lucky compared to many people whose houses have been wrecked.  I just think in general the weather needs to give us all a break especially here in Florida.
On another note I am still working on the painting that I started during Frances & I actually feel like I will keep going & not put it down like the other two.  I think we are actually going to get a digital camera very soon since financial aid money is coming, so hopefully I will actually have something to post.  Well, off to work I go.

I am finally back again :).  I was on vacation since a couple of weekends ago & I know I have missed a bit here on LJ.  We were going to go out of town for the week, but since Frances the hurricane was coming my parents ended up coming to see us & I got to spend sometime with them.  Luckily it didn't damage their apt in Fort Lauderdale & when it hit us in Tallahassee all it did was break one tree & toss a bunch of branches all over our yard.  The tree fell on open land so it didn't hurt the house at all thankfully.  It will be a pain getting all the sticks up though since they are spread across our 1/2 acre O_O, but hey it could've been worse.  We are actually going to wait until we see what happens with Ivan before we pick them up.  My father-in-law already came by & chopped down the rest of the fallen tree & cut two more that were already dead.  Hopefully Ivan will not hit Florida.  I swear if this keeps up Florida will be under water sooner then they predicted *lol*.  I did enjoy most of my week though since I hadn't seen my folks since Christmas & they even brought up my African Grey Mr.Grinch & the set of Parakeets.  Then when they left I read 4 novels & painted a little.  It had been a while since I tried my hand at painting, but I think I got a bit inspired this past week.  So, hopefully this painting will get finished.  Well, I must go catch up with all the lovely work on my desk & then I will also try to catch up on some of everyones LJ entries.