A New Energy

It has been a very long time since I've been around here, but I can help but feel inspired by our nation and the history we are making. The picture above is what our current artwork on our kitchen chalkboard. Though we are a white family, we are truly inspired by heart felt words. It is awesome for me as an independent woman in a loving same sex relationship to see a group who was once in my position rise to the utmost top of the world.

The door reads:

"Four score and seven years ago..." Abraham Lincoln

"I have a dream..." Martin Luther King

"Let it be said by our children's children that when we were tested we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God's grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations." Barack Obama

The other words I truly loved yesterday were these:

JOSEPH E. LOWERY: "And in the joy of a new beginning we ask you to help us work for that day when black will not be asked to give back, when brown can stick around, when yellow will be mellow, when the red man can get ahead man, and when white will embrace what is right."

I loved that the President himself touched on many races, creeds, and beliefs. Working in the airline biz you get to see the melting pot America truly is first hand. It is great to see so many in our country experiencing it all.

How AWE-some is it that over a MILLION people stood in harmony and NOT ONE SINGLE ARREST.

Words do not, and can not describe the feelings that my family had witnessing this. For so long we have fought the typical American "bigger is better, more is the most" attitude. I think that the time we are living in is giving many American a reality check of what is truly important. For me and mine it is: Faith, Family, Country, and Community.

Peek-a-boo!

It's been a while since I've even opened up my blog page, but lately I am feeling inspired, and this is where I love to go to spill it. I don't know if anyone even stops by anymore...

I have been so busy that writing here has not been a priority for me, but it should be. I am and have always been a writer. I need to write to get shit out of my internal champagne bottle before the cork blows.

It seems like life has been running me since I got the job here in Chicago, don't get me wrong, this IS where I want to be and truly feel that I am meant to be here. I have been trying very hard to put my family & myself first...this has me trying to be more verbal than writing or typing driven. Anyway, I felt like stopping by today, and finishing up this post I started months ago. Since it is the end of the year, I think I will catalogue the months for you to see what I have been up to, and for me to gain some perspective on what I have learned this year. Accompanied of course with pictures ;)

Here we go!

January:

I normally take a vacation in January, but elected not to in 2007 due to me misunderstanding my vacation time accrual. Not going away had a plus side for me as I ended up being available to enrich my life with a new friend. I have talked about her to many of you. January is when I went out with Effie for the first time. She took me on my first Movie Marathon we saw four movies in the theater in ONE day! It was fun, and I learned that though I usually sum people up pretty accurately within the first 30 seconds of meeting them, I am not always right...IMAGINE THAT!



February:

Since I skipped my January vacation, and got an invite to celebrate my Aunt's clean bill of health we hopped a flight. This was a very special occasion for me. My aunt had been diagnosed as third stage cancer, and with treatment now has no sign of cancer, so off to Vegas I went! I travel every year with Jules & Sherry, and it was nice to travel with Phyl & Aunt Bern. I look forward to doing it again. I have gone on several vacations the last few years with many various members of my large family, and it has become a tradition for me to get a picture taken with the whole group & hang it in my home. Here are a few more for my collection. I am sooooo happy they invited us!

Left to Right: Jen, Me, Cousin Jules, Cousin Phyllis, Cousin Sherry, Aunt Bern

Two of my cousins, Jen & I decided to drop in on a few friends in San Fran after Vegas. I was nice to really unwind, and to hear the ocean, but most of all to see the Golden Gate. My friends moved to Cali from Kentucky. I think we were their first visitors. I know that I said to Krista "You find out who you're real friends are when you move away." I have a feeling she thoroughly agreed. I know I did when I moved to Virginia...Now I am here in Chicago wondering who else is going to show me their true colors...hehehehe

Left to Right: Friend Krista, Cousin Sherry, Me, Jen, Friend Lette, Cousin Jules

March:

March winds blew in good news, this is the month I was informed that I got promoted at work. I am so happy to be privileged enough to have my dream job. Everyday that I go to work I almost have to pinch myself, and see if I am really awake. Class started in April...more on that below.

I took a few mini trips to Detroit this year, but the trip in March was very special. I attended my cousin Jerry's wedding. He is such a wonderful man, and he caught a great gal! Again surrounded by family, I felt rooted before another whirlwind swept in. I used this trip as an opportunity to get some great pics of my family, but most importantly a portrait of Jen & I.

April:

As I said earlier class started in April, but before I hit the books, a friend from work invited me to the Big Smoke Chicago. What a BLAST! For those of you who don't know, on of my favorite things to do to relax is smoke a good cigar. The Big Smoke goes several places in the U.S. and is a ticketed event. My ticket was about $200.00, my little congratulations to me gift! ;0 ) I couldn't beat it though. We had free food, free drinks (expensive ones), and I came home with 50+ cigars. OH & I got two autographs, one from a guy on the Soprano's, and another of the make of El Rico Habano Cigars. Good food, strong drinks, smooth smokes, and great company!

Class started April 23rd, that I will never forget because it's my brother's birthday. The first few weeks were kind of slow, and then from Mid-May on it kicked my ass!

May & June:

Nothing good too share here, all I did was hit the damn books, and be stressed the FUCK out!

I take that back - Jen started her job here in June, and D.J. got out of school in May so the whole family was back together living under one roof! It has been a HUGE adjustment for us to go back to not commutting. I love it though, and I wouldn't have it any other way. This has been very good for Jen & I's relationship. Pssssttt, did you know that June 18th marked Jen & I's 9 year anniversary HOLY CRAP!

I do have to say that I was again crushed in May. My 23 year old cousin was killed in an accident in Falmouth, KY. I did get to attend his funeral, but it was very sad. He went long before his time had come.

RIP Powzy

I did participate in my annual camping trip for Memorial Day weekend, that was a blast as always. It was great to see Joey & the rest of the gang and just hang out. I got soooooo drunk I couldn't even walk, I had to make myself throw up. Can you tell I was a little stressed? Who has ever seen me that drunk?

July:

This month was cruising along for me. I was nearing the end of my class room training, and then one day WHAM!!! I had a pain like I never felt before. I rolled out of class and went to the doc in the box, he sent me to the ER. Many drugs, painful tests, some shingles, and a surgery later I left minus my gallbladder...what a shitty way to leave class. I missed my last day of class and two weeks of my desk training. The upside was, it got both my Mom & Dad up here for their first visits. Dad remodeled my kitchen while he was here, what a guy! D.J. bought me the most beautiful flowers while I was in the hospital, one of the roses had two blooms in one flower, if that makes sense. The other cool thing was that my buddy Mike flew up to visit me, so meet Mike (his sister took this picture, you should check out her website:

www.mcgreevymarksphoto.com/

I did do one thing before all of that other crap happened in July. I made a pitiful attempt to capture these beautiful fourth of July fireworks...

August:

Since I was in the hospital, and off work we didn't have D.J.'s birthday party until August. I also had my birthday in August. Yeah, yeah the date it's the 29th, then my oral competency check for dispatch was on the 30th, and my desk check was the 31st... Can you say CRAZY month???

September:

A little more relaxed and on a set schedule for the month I took some time to go home for a few days and do something I had never done before. I went to the Toyota WEBN fireworks. This is a huge festival & event that happens every year on Labor Day. The pictures speak for themselves, I was in awe.

October:

I didn't mention it before, but I was of course rolling to Cincinnati for every Bengal's game I could catch. What a rough year...nine players arrested, 8 & 8 the previous season, and all I could do was sit back and watch my team become one of...

November:


No Turkey day celebration for me, this junior dispatcher was working... I did however go home to celebrate with my cousin Jules, as she was soon to be hitched!

Left to Right: Sunshine, Don't know the next two girl's names...Jules, Sherry, Me, Jen, Te-Te(in the back), Charity, and another name I don't know...lol

December:

This month has been a wonderful ending to a crazy year. I have had off the majority of the month. I happened to call Phyl to see what she was up to one night before work, and she said "I'm packing for Mexico!" To which I (not so bashfully replied) Got room for one more? Off I went for 5 days in the sun! WOOHOO. My cousin Jerry, his wife Lisa, Pepe (Phyl's hubby, and Aunt Bern were going. Nobody told Aunt Bern I was coming...I found them out walking around when I arrived, I rolled up behind my Aunt wrapped my arms around her and said "Hey baby can I take you home?" She about shit herself, until she turned around...She was thrilled! I had a blast, it was beautiful and I can't wait to go back in January.

I came back from Mexico and drove to Richmond, KY where I was in Jules wedding. That's right I said IN the wedding, DRESS & ALL!!! We came back to Chicago and it commenced dumping snow, first 4 inches the 10.5 inches... I took the opportunity to snap some cute pictures of D.J.

Christmas was great! We went home for a few exhausting day it was a whirlwind trip, but still great to see our friends & family. We came home on Sunday and enjoyed Christmas Eve & Day here in our home just being lazy... It drives Jen nuts when she doesn't do something productive, but she has been very supportive in this mass chaos the last year, and I think she deserves to just be still...

One last note, I had the pleasure of taking my cousin Tasha to her first Bengals game this season, at least they won! Here are the last of the pics.

Left to Right: Lisa, Me, Aunt Bern, & Phyl

Jen, D.J. & Me (yes in a dress)

D.J.

Tash - WHODEY!!!

I hope you are caught up now, I know my fingers & wrists hurt! Take care all & keep in touch.

OH BY THE WAY...we have NOT finished the Christmas Cards yet, so PLEASE be patient, they'll get there soon...ROFL

Have you ever met someone???

Have you ever met someone who in life and death has a presence in your life? It has been almost a year since I lost my friend Scuba, and there is not a day that goes by when he is not in my mind. At first I thought it was because the wound was fresh & new. Then a few months past and I thought that it was because I was in the same place professionally as he was when we all lost him. Then driving down the roads the other day an epiphany came slowly crawling out of my speakers.

I remember a while back a friend of mine was experience a very similar situation and we talked about not taking ourselves to the place that would allow us to think we could have changed things. It has been very hard for me not to blame myself, and find comfort too.

I loved Scuba in a way that I love many of you, but he very much was a mentor to me, and I loved his way of putting things to him. I know I have really needed that the last few months, and it makes me miss him so much more.

To the point, once this song played and I finished crying, I realized that I couldn't have changed anything about what happened. A-C-C-E-P-T-A-N-C-E Don't you love how it invites itself into your live when you least expect it. I would have sworn that my heart & soul couldn't handle anything else right now, and though it hurts to accept this, it has helped me find what little serenity I can in this situation.

Here is the song:

"How To Save A Life" The Fray

Step one you say we need to talk
He walks you say sit down it's just a talk
He smiles politely back at you
You stare politely right on through
Some sort of window to your right
As he goes left and you stay right
Between the lines of fear and blame
And you begin to wonder why you came

Where did I go wrong, I lost a friend
Somewhere along in the bitterness
And I would have stayed up with you all night
Had I known how to save a life

Let him know that you know best
Cause after all you do know best
Try to slip past his defense
Without granting innocence
Lay down a list of what is wrong
The things you've told him all along
And pray to God he hears you
And pray to God he hears you

Where did I go wrong, I lost a friend
Somewhere along in the bitterness
And I would have stayed up with you all night
Had I known how to save a life

As he begins to raise his voice
You lower yours and grant him one last choice
Drive until you lose the road
Or break with the ones you've followed
He will do one of two things
He will admit to everything
Or he'll say he's just not the same

And you'll begin to wonder why you came
Where did I go wrong, I lost a friend
Somewhere along in the bitterness
And I would have stayed up with you all night
Had I known how to save a life

Quick Notes...

I just woke up to the most wonderful e-mail from a friend of mine. I thought I would share it with you. This is another reason why I love surrounding myself with people who share their emotions....

Just wanted to send you a quick note this morning to let you know I am thinking about you. Life is really going well right now and I am reminded of the struggles you helped me work through and I am so grateful to have experienced all of that with you. I am so grateful to have you in my life.

I sent the following note back to my friend:
You (and E) are my little blessing(s) in disguise both of you showed me that my finely tuned pre-judgments are not always right.

I too am grateful to have been a part of those moments it reminded me how far I have come, and that even though there are rough spots it is still very possible to be happy.

I really hope to see & talk to you soon.

That quick little e-mail turned my morning around. I woke up feeling stressed out and knowing I had a list of things to do today, and wondering how I was going to get it all done. Her quick thought of me has me grinning from ear to ear. This is exactly why I want everyone in my life to know how I feel about them.

Receiving that e-mail prompted me to reach out to someone else, sort of like paying it forward:

Good morning, I hope you are well just wanted to say that I miss our time together, and I am very happy that you took the time to invite a stranger into your world. I know you are not a person of many words when it comes to these things (and I am trying to be ok with that), but I hope eventually you will be this comfortable with me.

A while back I came across some simple values that I have tried to incorporate into my daily life along with my program. I posted the values here and wanted to revisit them.

I was touched by watching the TV show workout. It is a reality show & one of the guys on there passed away. I was watching the show with a friend and we were both balling. His best friend from the show said the one thing he learned from his friend's death was to let everyone know how he feels about them everyday.


Here are those principles:
Doug's Principles
Just for today do not worry!
Just for today do not anger!
Honor your parents, teachers, and elders!
Earn your living honestly!
Show gratitude to all living things!
My addition:Remember to live for today, because tomorrow may never come! (This would be my motivation for always sharing my honest feelings.)

WHO-DEY!