Work + Shift + New = Change

Well, I have a new shift at work: 7:55 a.m. - 1:55 p.m. Part of me is excited. Part of me is nervous about getting this body to move so early in the morning.

I am actually excited by the new shift because this actually gives me time to write and work on the house as in cleaning and cooking, etc. This is beneficial and useful.

Already there is a list prepared for things to do in the morning and hopefully the routine will get established, or establish itself so that this won't be such a shock to my system.

Coffee is going to be much needed from here on out!

In other news, there is still snow on my ramp. I will be staying in for a little while longer until it melts some more. Since I am getting off earlier at work, well, I should be able to run away to Barns & Noble during the day and be back before the husband gets home. I consider this a win/win situation!

Well, we'll see how it goes tomorrow.

The First Monday of a New Year's Work Week and Song Lyrics

Tomorrow is Monday. The first Monday of 2010. Monday. I have to work tomorrow morning. Just keep thinking about the paycheck. Just keep thinking about the paycheck. Just keep thinking....

Mondays are rarely good in my job. Usually the calls swamp us and I can barely have enough time to breathe much less think or grab a snack here and there. Since I don't have a lunch break, well, I'm starving by the time the day ends. Still, as of January 15th, *knock on wood*, I will have been in my job and with my current company for an entire year. This pleases me greatly. It gives me hope and helps me settle some weird turmoil deep down inside. Hopefully I can continue to do a good enough job and stay where I am for a while longer.

It has taken a lot of thinking these past couple of weeks preparing for Christmas and then New Year's (which didn't pan out as I had hoped), but there is a plan for obtaining the goals I've mentioned. It is a good plan, I think, and do-able. The do-ability part of the plan is actually something that is encouraging me at the moment, where before had been a shadow of lurking doubt.

I am not "pumped", but I am...peaceful about 2010 and the things that should be accomplished. I am not even going to put an "if" in that statement. This is going to be my year.

Today, when I opened up the browser there was a new "most downloaded song" and after listening to it twice I actually wondered who was downloading it. The song isn't bad. It is catchy and has a fantastic dance beat to it, but it isn't for grammar school kids or tweens in the least, and possibly not some teens because, well, it encourages partying a wee bit much. It is called "TiK ToK" by Ke$sha, yes, this is how she spells her stage name.

It took a little searching to find a site that actually had the lyrics to the song and I listed again to make sure they were as close to correct as possible. They are as follows:

Wake up in the morning feeling like P Diddy
(Hey, what up girl?)
Put my glasses on, Im out the door - I’m gonna hit this city (Lets go)
Before I leave, brush my teeth with a bottle of Jack
Cause when I leave for the night, I ain’t coming back
I’m talking - pedicure on our toes, toes
Trying on all our clothes, clothes
Boys blowing up our phones, phones
Drop-toping, playing our favorite cds
Pulling up to the parties
Trying to get a little bit tipsy

[CHORUS]
Don’t stop, make it pop
DJ, blow my speakers up
Tonight, Imma fight
Til we see the sunlight
Tick tock, on the click
But the party don’t stop
Woah-oh oh oh
Woah-oh oh oh

[Chorus]

Aint got a care in world, but got plenty of beer
Aint got no money in my pocket, but I’m already here
Now, the dudes are lining up cause they hear we got swagger
But we kick em to the curb unless they look like Mick Jagger
Im talking about - everybody getting crunk, crunk
Boys trying to touch my junk, junk
Gonna smack him if he getting too drunk, drunk
Now, now - we goin til they kick us out, out
Or the police shut us down, down
Police shut us down, down
Po-po shut us
[Chorus] x 2
DJ, you build me up
You break me down
My heart, it pounds

Yeah, you got me
With my hands up
You got me now
You gotta that sound
Yea, you got me
DJ, you build me up
You break me down
My heart, it pounds
Yeah, you got me
With my hands up
Get your hands up
Put your hands up

The video is catchy too:




I am not all up-in-arms about censorship and everything, but those who have younger chidren may want to re-think downloading this particular song for their tweens or young kids, even though it is super-popular.

After all, this is The Kentucky Mountain Girl News and part of the reason I began this blog was to share information with you, Dear Readers.

A New Year. A New Decade.

First and foremost.... HAPPY NEW YEAR!

The husband and I spent a quiet New Year's Eve together. He had fought a migraine for most of the day yesterday and the cold temps here in Lexington just made me back out of going downtown and enjoying all of the wonderfulness of counting down to a new decade as well as a New Year. I played it safe. I played it safe for myself as well as for my husband. Some would say this was quite thoughtful and very adult of me; others would say that I had lost my youthful exuberance for challenging everything and everyone to do what I want. I cannot, for the life of me, choose the best side to stand on as far as my actions are concerned. Yes, I was disappointed in not going downtown and dancing until I could not longer breathe. Yes, I wanted to enjoy bringing in a New Year with a lot of people who were hoping for something better like me. No, I was not willing to chance falling on ice and injuring myself for the beginning of the new year. No, I did not want to add to the stress of a post-migrained husband in a crowd of people with flashing lights and loud music.

Sadly, I even declined having people over because the husband wasn't up to it.

So, we quietly brought in the newness of the Year and Decade with video games, a kiss, and watching just a few minutes of Carson Daily and Rihanna in New York City where it was snowing and looked so cold. (Actually I felt quite sorry for Rihanna who was singing her heart out and wearing a belly-showing bustier with a short white fur-looking coat and riding pants and boots. I could almost feel her cold, especially since her band and back-up singers were bundled in several layers.) Then we went back to playing the video game - Conan for the XBox 360.

I actually ended up leaving the husband playing the game and took myself off to bed and didn't wake up or get up until 11:40 this morning (or what was left of the morning).

Friends are coming over tonight to enjoy ham hocks, black-eyed peas and pintos, with collard greens (or any greens I can put together) with some cornbread. A traditional mountain New Year's Day supper.

As far as New Year's Resolutions are concerned I have decided on the following:

1. I am going to be happy this year and as filled with peace as possible, even if I must depend on the use of some nerve pill here and there to help me along.
2. I am going to get out and do what I like and that makes me happy whether or not anyone approves, unless the thing I want to do puts me in danger.
3. I am going to correct as many of the "mistakes" my husband says I make where he is concerned as possible. The others I will note, and just keep on living my life and doing my best to please him as possible while understanding and accepting I am never really going to be able to do that on a constant basis because, let's face it, we're both humans and humans make mistakes and err and we just have to keep going forward with living.
4. The house will be better kept and I am going to encourage the husband to help clean up the messes he make- not two days later, but before going to bed.
5. I am going to move more and continue getting in better physical condition.
6. I am going to work as well as I can and keep my job for as long as possible.
7. I am going to move forward with the writing and the knitting because I am almost positive this is how I am going to get the extra money I need in order to keep up a good living condition, as well as keep myself in yarns, journals, and books.
8. I am going to organize, organize, organize.
9. I am going to follow the dictates of my faith.
10. I am going to prepare myself for death every single day from this point forward. Yes, it does sound a little morbid, but if I live every single day as if I am going to die at the end of it then perhaps I will be able to keep more joy in my life and everyone else around me as happy as possible.

These look simple, and even sound simple, but this is the most difficult New Year's Resolution list I have ever made for myself.

A Wonderdul

May God bless you all.

Christmas Eve Eve

Tomorrow is Christmas Eve. So, this is Christmas Eve Eve.

When I was a little girl, there was just as much anticipation and excitement for this night as it was for Christmas Eve, which is when we traditionally would open our presents because Christmas Day was all for cooking, eating, and visiting...and playing with the new toys so the grown-ups would know which ones to take back and exchange (this rarely happened).

The excitement for this evening was just because. Just because it was close to Christmas. Just because the best Christmas specials came on. Just because Mommy and Daddy relaxed a little longer in preparation for the spectacular marathon of family and friends that we would go through receiving into our home and feeding. It was never a chore. It was exciting and wonderful. It was what Christmas meant to them, and subsequently to the rest of us girls. Christmas was the time when all of us could openly hope and trust; remember Christ's birth and ultimate sacrifice. This is how Christmas is supposed to be celebrated.

Even though Mommy and Daddy are gone, this is still how Christmas is celebrated with very few changes. Christmas Eve is for Church service and exchanging of a few gifts. Christmas Day is for traveling to Richmond to Hubby's parents' and the most wonderful of feasts. Christmas Night is for the exchange of gifts between me and Hubby and a few other people.

Our Christmas celebration doesn't stop until the full 12 Days of Christmas have gone. Somewhere in there is a celebration of all of our friends and family. This year it is going to be on January 8th. It is a time of more fellowship and love. It is a continuing time of hope.

For a few years I didn't have this hope, this "Christmas Spirit" if you will. This year it has returned and I can't help but spread the hope and belief of the upcoming New Year of 2010 is going to be spectacular. Mostly it is because I need to believe next year (which is so close you can taste it) is going to be absolutely the most fantastic of years for me and those I love.

One of Those Quiet Snowy Reflective Saturdays

I promised someone quite dear to me that I would begin updating here more often than not at all. Yesterday I spent a good portion of the evening wondering exactly what I was going to write about today and debated many topics; however, with all the talk of snow and snowstorms my mind wandered around to peacefulness and being relaxed, which is what the new qi gong class I am taking is all about, as well as movement.

The very first class ended with me so relaxed I was positive. Positive I was going to complete the course. Positive I was going to complete all of the Christmas knitting projects. Positive that everything I felt that was "bad" with me, well, really wasn't that bad.

All week long I practiced what I had learned for ten minutes every day before work, or after work, and noticed that I was indeed more relaxed when work was over and the knot in my shoulders went down considerably after qi gong practice. When the second meeting came around and more was added, again I felt positive and relaxed by the end of class and felt more prepared to face the coming weekend and week (we practice on Thursday evenings).

Yesterday I practiced after work and still, for some reason felt stressed. It as mostly due to the husband being a husband and changing all of the plans I had made for the most perfect room in the house to me: a craft room. Last night I went in there, before it gets changed, and just knitted and practiced qi gong and felt the stresses just slipped away. Positive thoughts and feelings came back, and then, suddenly, I found myself praying and being even more relaxed and even more positive. Then, in one flashing moment of clarity I understood exactly why the craft room and how its arrangement mattered to be on such a deep level - besides just being a silly craft room filled with yarn and all sorts of knitting and spinning items:

The craft room is my peaceful room. It is situated in the middle of my house with bedroom and office on one side, and kitchen and living room on the other side. These rooms I usually share with more than one person and even though I can usually knit while watching television or knit when I am working (except here lately) and still get what I need to do done, but the enjoyment of it is not as great as sitting in the craft room with all of my supplies present, quiet, and the window blinds open just so much allowing the natural light to come in and join me in the projects I am doing. Everything is arranged per my wishes and the walls are waiting for me to adorn them and the spinning wheel is waiting for more roving so I can spin in there away from so many distractions and just be at peace with myself and with God. Surprisingly, not even the dogs join me in the craft room, but will lie outside in the hall as contentedly as if they were at my feet.

The husband, seeing a practical need of having to move some furniture has decided the only place he can put said furniture is in the craft room until he can "get the time" to move said furniture into our storage building. We all know what this really means: He isn't going to move it again once it is in the craft room. Because more items are coming into the craft room everything that was done for me and that I did will change and I felt quite as if one of the more precious spaces to me was being violated and my wishes and desires were not being respected. (Yes, part of this is true, but I understand the husband's reasonings.) Even though the craft room is going to be crowded and it is going to be quite stuffy I have managed, in part, to come to an understanding about it and have made plans without the husband being present to get the soon-to-be-empty furniture into the building and correct the craft room back into the way it should be.

However, I couldn't have permitted myself to come to a conclusion and plan about all of this if I hadn't first been relaxed enough to where I could think and look at the situation with a more critical and less emotional eye. Yes, I am still quite upset about it, but resigned now, and have a very large determination to get my room back to where it should be: A place to knit, spin, pray, and do qi gong in peace.

Yahoo! Music - "Bad Day" Named One-Hit Wonder Of The Decade - Stop The Presses!

"Bad Day" Named One-Hit Wonder Of The Decade - Stop The Presses!

http://new.music.yahoo.com/blogs/stopthepresses/94844/bad-day-named-one-hit-wonder-of-the-decade/

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Check out Yahoo! Music for music videos, customized radio, photos, lyrics, exclusive interviews, and more.
http://music.yahoo.com/

I actually forgot why I liked this song initially until it came back up here and caught my eye. And, for those of you who likewise cannot remember the video - here it is. Enjoy.

Yahoo! News Story - Senate votes to keep Medicare cuts in health bill - Yahoo! News

(handyha@gmail.com) has sent you a news article.
(Email address has not been verified.)
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Personal message:

Why does this not surprise me?

Senate votes to keep Medicare cuts in health bill - Yahoo! News

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_health_care_overhaul

============================================================
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http://news.yahoo.com/

A Good Movie Really Sucked and Weird Moments Abound

I wanted to see Ninja Assassin sooo badly, but after talking Hubby and Cheyenne into going to see it with me I was greatly disappointed. The movie was "good" in and of itself, but things were just too over-the-top (like all of the buckets of blood and body parts that weren't necessary to make the movie a good movie).

The best part of the movie was Rain - the protagonist of our tale. He looked the part. He moved like you would think a martial arts move should be done. He is definitely good looking, and he can actually act. These are all positives, yet the movie lacked so much that it is almost impossible to put my finger on one particular reason why it wasn't good.

Yes, the over-exaggeration of blood and body parts flying off at the touch of a shuriken or sword was a bit much, but it lacked, or missed the mark for what makes a good martial arts movie. There was even a story that made sense to follow, but it just wasn't there. Yes, there was tons of violence that actually sort of made sense on some warped level. Yes, there was a love interest that was one lost, a new love interest gained; there was suffering of the hero, but at the end of the movie I was left wanting something...more.

Hubby wanted to walk out of the movie within the first ten minutes of the movie, but, since I had purchased the tickets, I couldn't afford just leaving the theater because I don't make as much money as he does, and thus do not have the luxury of walking out on a movie I don't particularly care for after the first little bit.

---

In other news, I am still writing on the pretty, pretty drag queen's adventures. Unfortunately it feels as if I am only writing a word or two at a time.

Having a Grrrrr Moment

Signed on for work today and the server had decided my password was wrong. A ticket has been opened but no one has contacted me since it was put in at 10:57 A.M. Yeah, not exactly happy but am trying to just let it go and fill the day with other productive things to do. You know make a Christmas list that people have been hounding me for for a while; looking up patterns that I need for Christmas and baby knitting; and just keeping from stressing as much as possible.

I am not happy about the work situation, especially since I can't fix myself a bite of food in case tech support decides to call. About the only thing left to me to munch on is old Halloween candy, and even it is becoming sparse.

So, back to perusing the Internet for interesting somethings.

More Words

Another successful day of at least getting more words down for the pretty, pretty drag queen.

Today's word total = 734
Total words= 3,181

This is called DETERMINATION!!!

Have you ever seen a more determined creature? Or, more correctly, have you ever seen a more threatening creature? I bet this is the sweetest cat evar, until you threaten to take the pancakes away!

Yesterday I had technical difficulties at work so I actually sat myself down and began work again on the pretty, pretty drag queen's story.

It didn't just feel "good" to be creating something, of telling a story: It felt extraordinarily right, which was just what was needed to fuel the writing fire again and help me obtain the determination of said kitty. This time I am finishing the story. No more excuses. No more reasons. No more "I can'ts" because, to be honest, I am actually quite tired of the excuses. So what if it might not get published, I have enjoyed being a different person for a while and seeing how their lives turn out.

Yesterday the beginning word count for the pretty, pretty drag queen: 1,800

Today's additional words: 647

Total word count: 2,447

Yes, I know that today's word count is a lot smaller than yesterday's but the main thing that has me in the squee is that I actually sat me down and wrote some on the story.

Not going back and editing the thing is driving me a little wild, but getting everything down now is the important thing. All the errors can be fixed later.

Having gotten words down has actually made me feel quite accomplished. In fact, writing has made me feel better all around. It has been missing from my daily routine and it should never have been pushed to the back burner for whatever reasons that kept it there.

Now, I just have to keep the kitty-like determination on the writing as it does with the pancakes!

Sunday

see more Lolcats and funny pictures
Well, we had a quiet Halloween in Lexington. Hubby and I remained home to pass out candy. Unfortunately we only had about a dozen Trick-or-Treaters. All of them were quite cute, but they were so quick I didn't get one single photo! This was not something I wanted to miss this year, but, well, if they or the parents aren't going to stick around for a picture I can't make them. I guess some parents are really weird about having a complete stranger taking a photo of their kids.

Our friends went downtown and partied. I SO should have been there helping them! Still, it is a good thing I did not go because, for some reason, I am fighting another fever.

How Appropriate!

see more Lolcats and funny pictures

Quick! I need a new plan!

I am not feeling absolutely wonderful yet. There is a nagging cough and stuffy head even though the fevers have gone the way of the Great Do-Do bird. Sadly, this stupid flu is going to keep me from going downtown and partying this Halloween. Yes, I am much bummed about that.

So, alternate plans for Halloween must be made.

Does anyone have any suggestions?

Quick and not so Easy

Officially have the flu. Not H1N1 though. Still, it is kicking my butt!

Mysterious Friday

It has rained off and on for the past 24 hours. My arthritis is kicking up and I am not feeling well, but worse is the fact that I am not emotionally feeling well. Rain does that to me sometimes, as do dreary, no sun days, like today and yesterday.

There are a lot of contributing factors to my doldrums, but the end result is the same. Fortunately I want to change the emotional icky and make it better...I am just not quite sure how at the moment.

Still, there are good things happening: It is Friday. I actually made it to work today. There is a chance of sun tomorrow for the business lunch. Hubby is going with me to the business lunch. My dogs are with me and I have warm Coke for the tummy rumbles. So, things aren't all bad in my mysterious world, and, with luck and some more work, they will be better sooner than later.

Tickling the Funny Bone

A New Show that Should not be Forgotten!

It is no secret that yours truly is a crime show buff. I had not heard of this new show called The Forgotten until surfing the TV while recuperating from the stomach flu yesterday and just happened to catch Christian Slater on Rachel Ray's talk show.

I knew that Slater was supposed to be in a new show since the absolute best show ever about the split personality was axed, but was surprised to discover this show was actually based on one small fact: There are organizations out there who volunteer their time to try and give names to those victims of crimes who are nameless. According to Slater there are over 40,000 nameless victims (Jane & John Does) out there and organizations like this fictional one really do work to try and give a name to the nameless.

Since I actually like to watch Christian Slater and how he portrays his characters, I set the DVR to tape the show last night and since the stomach flu is still keeping me from working (I would much prefer a different form of forced vacation) I watched it and am instantly hooked!

Slater's character is a retired Chicago police officer and other individuals of his cohorts have lives outside of their research for the nameless victims of crimes. They are the ordinary people, just like you and me, who have decided to make a difference in the world as best they can. The show is up-lifting and makes you think, and also encourages you to do something with those talents you just let slip by here and there.

It is emotional. It has action. It has a common-place feel about it that lifts it up above just another "ordinary" crime drama into a new realm of possibilities. Real possibilities.

Although I have missed the first episode, I am going to go back and watch it at ABC.com. It deserves a look-see. I think it is one of the best new shows of the season and should stick around for a while. Kudos to ABC for such a wonderful new show!

A Woman in Stages

The above is a painting by Edvard Munch titled Woman in Three Stages. It holds me deeply and I feel it more than I have felt anything in quite a while. It makes me want to get hold of oil pastels again and doodle, expressing emotions in the only avenue that seems to be able to get them out of me these days - color and shape. Of course words help, but sometimes, just sometimes, words are too complicated an avenue to express what is roiling and boiling inside my chest and heart. For those moments it must be a visual medium such as paint, oil pastels, or photography.

Unfortunately I have not been able to get outside and do my pictures because a) I have been quite ill; and b) it has been too cool for me to go outside and look for interesting images around my home.

It would be nice to roam a graveyard for gravestone pictures, but this requires getting Hubby to go with me, and sometimes it would be nice just to be able to roam and take pictures as I see them without having to talk overly much or explain why I am photographing this or that. My eye sees things differently, it seems, from the rest of humanity and most assuredly my husband.
And, I cannot draw worth a lick! Still, sometimes it isn't the object that is being drawn, but the very act of drawing and selecting colors to share the emotion itself is what is most important.

The sharing of emotion is what seems to keep drawing me to Edvard Munch's creations of late. In each painting, drawing, picture that he produces he shows emotion. The emotion not only jumps out at you, but it itself, is screaming from the canvas itself. It is emotion everyone can understand in their own particular way in their own particular time in their own life that makes his artistry so important.

Another artist who touches me in the same way is Georgia O'Keeffe. Her works are beautiful. Sad. Thought provoking. Important. They have an importance even if it is to no one else but her, and us because they were important to her - a circle.

Perhaps it is time to pick up paints and oil pastels again for me, and pencils so I can express the currently inexpressible.