i'm so excited!!!!

I'm so friggin excited!! Going to see moe. on thursday nite!! robb and i are off to urbana to check out the show!! the last live music i saw was with robb and it was moe. in october of 2004, so it's been a while!!! So, new music friday will be a review of the show!!

HOOT!

movies

do you like foriegn flicks? having lived in a 90% hispanic community for 3 years, i got into watching spanish movies. that has bled over into other languages as well. this past weekend i watched two different foriegn movies. One was a spanish movie called "the other side of the bed." it was pretty good. i have seen better movies, but it was decent. it amazes me how different cultures view sexuality and how open they are with it in their films/television and music. the second movie i watched was called "kontroll." it is a hungarian movie that included mystery, murder and romance. it was really good... kind of had a "memento" feel to it...

so, if you are open to trying something new, check out a foriegn flick... they are pretty good!

new music friday

wow... and that's all i gotta say about that... check this one out... xavier rudd - to let. this is incredible... this is a one man band... and you could never tell by listening to him... here is some of what is posted on his website... www.xavierrudd.com

Through the conscious and heartfelt songs composing Solace, the debut of Canadian-Australian surf/roots artist Xavier Rudd, there’s stories of the mistreatment of the indigenous people of his homeland and songs about humanity, spirituality and the environment, compassionate songs encouraging understanding and looking to celebrate life. And running through those songs are all sorts of instruments: guitars, shakers, didgeridoos, Weissenborn slide guitars, Tongue drums, stomp boxes, djembes, harmonica, ankle bells, and slide banjo—and they’re all played by Rudd.

i can't thank robb enough for turning me on to this guy, incredible!! i have already shared with 2 others and now all of you!!!

behold the power of .....friendship!!!

i had the best night on monday! my best friend's little brother had burnt some discs for me so i could share them with paul from work. now, there is a story behind greg's brother robby burning me discs. greg has been my best friend for 6 years now. robby, when i met him, was this HUGE metal head, listening to pantera, slipnot and bands such as that. our friendship grew out of an acquaintence. when greg and i used to chat online, robby would log in under greg's screen name. i thought it was greg, but it was actually robb. when i started talking to him, he was just 15 years old. he's now an adult at the age of 21 and a great friend!

in 2002 i went to atlanta to visit greg and we went to see moe. at the tabernacle. it was both of our first "moe." shows and i remember robby saying he couldn't believe how we could like that kind of music. well, last year, i took robby to his first moe. show, and he is a full blown "head" now!!!

so, to get back to monday. i told robb that i would stop by after i got off work to pick up the discs. well, he calls and says don't meet me at my house, come to the tavern (where greg works.) so, i head to the bar after work, and it's just greg, robb and me at the bar. we put some phish on in the jukebox and talked music for an hour! it was incredible!!! robb forgot the discs at home, so i run him back there and sit down and talk even more music for another hour!! it was great... robb said, you know, i don't know if anyone tells you this, but i really appreciate your friendship!! so, not only did i get to hang out with my best friend and his brother, but i got to talk music and i got to hear that i'm appreciated!!

can't ask for a better night than that, huh?

Daily OM - The Golden Rule

Do Unto Others
The Golden Rule

All over the world, there exists a simple precept that, when followed, has thepower to end conflict and banish strife. It is the Golden Rule, a key concept inmany philosophies and spiritualities that admonishes us to "do unto others as wewould have them do unto us." Its meaning is clear: treat others only in waysthat you would want to be treated. However, the golden rule is not always easyto follow. It can be a challenge to honor others as we wish to be honored. Yet,when we do so, we bestow a gift of loving kindness on our fellow human beings.And, in honoring others, we honor ourselves.

It is as uncomplicated a tenet as one could wish for. When we live by it,harming another person becomes nearly impossible. The Golden Rule is rooted inpure empathy and does not compel us to perform any specific act. Rather, itgently guides us to never let our actions toward others be out of harmony withour own desires. The Golden Rule asks us to be aware of the effect our words andactions may have on another person and to imagine ourselves in their place. Itcalls on us to ask ourselves how we would feel if what we were about to do weredirected toward us. And yet this rule invites us to do more than not harmothers. It suggests that we look for opportunities to behave toward others inthe same ways that we would want others to act toward us. Showing compassion,being considerate of others, caring for the less fortunate, and givinggenerously are what can result when you follow the Golden Rule.

Adhering to the Golden Rule whenever possible can have a positive effect on theworld around you because kindness begets kindness. In doing so, you generate aflow of positive energy that enfolds everyone you encounter in peace, goodwill,and harmony.

weekend update

well, this weekend was alright... i was supposed to work friday nite, but i had had a really bad day on friday, and i found out that they might let me go at my part time job due to not being able to take 3 days off from my fulltime job in order to go to school, so to be honest, i just wasn't "feeling" it for work friday nite. stopped at the video store and got a couple of movies. got home, put on my pj's and watched 40 year old virgin. it was good, i enjoyed it. yes, parts of it were crass, but overall, it was a good flick... plus, paul rudd was in it, and i just love him!!

Saturday, i went to pick up my youngest, as it was her weekend with me... stopped to get her, and received a text from my oldest stating she needed to go the ER. She has been there 2 other times this week, the kid is friggin sick. So, we go pick her up and take her down there. Her strep test is negative, again. she is extremely dehydrated, and her potassium is very low. they test her for mono, it's negative. so, they think she has epstein/barr, but it will take 2 weeks to find out about that. they shot her up with steroids, and strong antibiotics and she seems to be feeling better now. so, get home saturday nite and just chill... we watch Sky High, which was a cute movie. Then off to bed we go.

Yesterday was a long friggin day. mom decided she wanted to move the living room around... well, let me rephrase that, that she wanted me to move the living room around. so, do that, then have to run to the store and all that crap, then start some laundry and sit down to watch Cinderella Man. Wow, what a movie!! I knew i would like it, i have wanted to see it for months... it was soooo good. Sarah, who is ten, loved watching it, she was getting into it at the end. Overall, it was a good weekend... a bit stressed about possibly losing my part time job... a bit stressed about my oldest being as sick as she is... but other than that, it was okee dokee...

here is to a good week...

new music friday

many thanks to paul for today's new music friday... Bob Dylan - No Direction Home. You know, the man really is a poet... you just can't beat dylan... yes, he is hard to understand and sometimes his voice kind of grates on you, but you can't rule out that the man is a musical poet... check it out, i don't think you will be disappointed!!

is it true??

so, the rumors are flying... is it true? did you break my heart to turn around and come back? if you do, will i take you back? i was heartbroken... i still am... it took me so long to find you and then you leave me... i truly did shed a tear... i was/am so friggin mad at you...

so, will i take you back? you goddamn right i will!!! and no, i'm not talking about some stupid man!! but i am talking about my boys... all four of them... trey, page, mike and jon... PHISH...
i have only seen phish once, but it was the experience of a lifetime... so, keep your fingers crossed for me... my boys may be coming back to me...

i love phish and possibilities!!!

Quality vs. Quantity - excerpt

Often, in the pursuit of quantity we cheat ourselves of quality. Then again, quantity also plays a significant role in our lives. Certain elements, such as hugs, kisses, abundance, and love, are best had in copious amounts that are high in quality. But faced with the choice between a single, heartfelt grin and a lifetime of empty smiles, most would, no doubt, choose the former. Ultimately, it is not how much you live or have or do but what you make of each moment that counts.

i would definitely take the former....

call this number!!!

212-330-9092

this is mike gordon from phish... sounds to me like a reunion is in the works.... hopefully....mwhahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!


gotta love the cactus!!!

good memories...

this past wednesday would have been my friend matt's 34th. birthday. the anniversary of his death is in a couple of weeks. matt holds a very special place in my heart, for he was an incredible friend and an amazing person. unfortunately, matt got caught up in some stuff that he couldn't get out of, and now he is no longer with us. there are so many days that i think of him... today is one of them... i was watching a movie, "high fidelity" with john cusack. i love john cusack, he is one of my favorite actors. well, matt has always reminded me of john. not physically, per say, but just in general. mannerisms, tone all that stuff. plus during this movie, john's character is going thru all his breakups and he talks about making a "tape" for a girl. matt made me a tape... i still have it, and it is so special to me. i have my moments where i am so very mad at him for not being here, but the good moments out weigh the bad ones...

i miss you matt.... you are in my thoughts and my heart....

new music friday

today's new music is from a combination of people... first, the actual person that gave it to me, josh, and second, the person that got me interested in it in the first place, ben. yes, ben. what seems like a lifetime ago now, i was headed over there one nite and come in the back door to hear this music... not the typical music he listened to... i walk into the dining room to see this man bouncing a ball off the wall, singing and dancing to the music. as i'm listening to him sing and dance to the tune of the music, i ask, "who is this?" he responds with "A Tribe Called Quest." My response was that i have never heard of them, and he proceeds to tell me that they are "old school east coast rappers." ok... works for me, don't really care, i know i like it. I liked it so much, i downloaded a ringer, which is now my text message alert. so, here is "The Anthology" by A Tribe Called Quest. i have been listening to this non-stop since i got it... Thanks ben for getting me to hear this for the first time and thanks josh, i love you!! =)

Today's Daily OM

The Joy Of Being
Celebrating The In-Between Times

While celebrations are intended to honor life's more momentous occasions, muchof real life tends to happen during the in-between times. While moving from onemoment in time to the next is seldom considered a significant occurrence, it isduring those in-between times that we are most in tune with life's mostprofound, albeit simple joys. Between birth and death, triumph and sorrow,beginnings and endings, we enjoy innumerable experiences that often happenunnoticed. These times are just as worthy of celebration.

The in-between times are seldom about landmark moments. How you choose tocelebrate them or which moments you choose to celebrate is up to you. You maywant to celebrate the simple facts that you are alive and that every day is achance to spend time with the people you care about or do the work that youlove. Then again, when you look at the good that exists in your life, manyreasons for celebrating the in-between times may become clear: a cup of yourfavorite tea, a beautiful sunrise, a good book, and the smell of fresh air canbe reasons for celebration.

Celebrating the in-between times can be as easy as paying special attention tothem when they do happen, rather than taking them for granted. It's your focusof attention that can turn an in-between time into a celebration. You can alsopay homage to the in-between times by slowing down and allowing yourself time tolook around and allow your heart and mind to take in all of your life's wonders.Far too often, we can let those simple moments of awe pass us by. The in-betweentimes are when life happens to us between the pauses that we take to honor ourmilestones occasions. Without the in-between times, there would be no bigmoments to celebrate.

needed this today....

Rainbow - Jack Johnson featuring G. Love

Well I woke up this mornin',
Rainbows filled the sky,
Yes I woke up this mornin',
Rainbows filled the sky,

And there was God,
Tellin' me,
"Everythings gonna be alright"

Well so long good friends,
When will we meet again?
I said so long good friends,
When will we meet again?

Well I dont know,
I dont know,
But I guess I'll see you through
[G Love] "I'll see you man"

Well I'm gonna pack my own guitar,
Move on down the road, (keep on movin)
I'm gonna pack my own guitar,
Move on down the road

(Where ya gonna go?)
Oh, where I go,
I dont know,
But I guess I just gots' to go

Well I woke up this mornin',
Rainbows filled the sky,
Yes I woke up this mornin',
Rainbows filled the sky,

And there was God,
Tellin' me,
"Everythings gonna be alright"

I GOT IT!!!

Please join me in congratulating Lucy O'Neill on her promotion to Project Lead (Temporary).
Lucy has been with Afni since September 2004 as a Project Coach on the Sprint Solutions Program. Prior to Afni, Lucy worked for Affina as a Team Leader and Client Administrator supporting a variety of clients. Lucy also has approximately 15 years experience in retail management.

Lucy will support both the Dish Network and Verizon TBIC programs in Peoria, and will report to Chris Martin. She will start in her new position effective Monday, January 9.
Congratulations Lucy!

new music friday

today's new music is courtesy of Kristen... Michael Buble - It's Time. This is a great cd for background music... it's got an old school Sinatra feel, also compared to Harry Connick Jr. There are some covers on here that are great! I like this kind of music anyway, jazz, big band, swing, whatever you want to call it... anyway, great cd, check it out, if you get an opportunity!!

Life's Natural Rhythm - excerpt

We may even notice that our soul moves to its own internal, natural rhythm -especially when it comes to our personal evolution. Comparing ourselves toothers is unnecessary. Our best guide is to move to our own internal timing,while keeping time with the rhythm of nature.

well, and a way we go...

2006... it's here... let's hope it turns out a helluva lot better than 2005 did. 2005 brought me a lot of pain and heartbreak, brought me financial ruin and brought me to the point that i needed to question my judgement. but 2005 did teach me to go with my gut and not my heart, because going with your heart gets you hurt... BAD.

so, to 2006... i resolve to make this the best year i have had in a long time... i resolve to make myself happy and no one else (except my kids, of course,) i resolve to be the best that i can be and a big double fuck you to everyone else out there...

happy new year everyone.... let's go!