Where Is 2013?

I came to realized that I have not posted anything on the blog during 2013. A lot has happened during that year. Not in a bad way, mind you. There were many changes and I have changed a lot. Not sure of how much details I'd like to put on this site, but it is enough to say that I've met a guy from a website (again) around New Year of 2013, then had a long distance relationship for six months, then he moved in with me and we are currently living together. 

I have been focusing a lot on him and making many adjustments which gives me very little time or desire to use the blogger. Now that I finally sit back and decided to explore through my "old" things and realized that I've not use the blogger for over a year. 

What kind of changes I've made? I was labeled bi polar type two couple years ago and since being with him, I wean off the pills and became more settled and steady with myself, with life and with him. Yes, no relationship and life is perfect for there will be ups and downs. But the best part is that there are more ups than not. And I'm happy about it. That's all for now and I better return to my tasks. Being busy keeps me happy. Have a good year! 

Oh by the way, I am still working at Petco. I am employed there for over two years now and I'm also happy about it. Perhaps I can post some photos of the dogs here.... 

November Already

It has been nine months since I posted on Blogger. I met a deaf fellow named Steve in March. We have been going on and off with each other. Things were pretty good for five months till I decided to break up with him. We had no contact for two months till he send me two birthday cards in September. It was then we got in touch and seeing each other again.

Couple months pass, things appeared to become rocky again. Steve became frustrated and I became stubborn. He wanted this while I don't while I wanted that while he doesn't. We created several conflicts and appeared to be stretching out in opposite directions. It appeared the more he learned of me, the more unsettling he become. As if the quote says: "If you can’t handle me at my worst, then you sure as hell don’t deserve me at my best" That's how I felt when he gets frustrated with me, believing that I should deserve better, believing that I should be better than that. I understand that he thinks highly of me, but I felt like he's pushing me to become the type of better girl he thinks I should be, while I do not see myself anything worse or better as I am now. Yes, there are always room for improvement. I do not ask for someone to help me change. All I want is someone to be at my side while I save myself.

Okay base on what you're saying: You talked with my parents, learned that I'm scared of people with high morals. You're tired of being mistreated and does not like what I have been involved in my life. We are two different people, while your heart have strong feelings for me. I am kind and sweet, and you do not want to lose me over what I have done. You hope that I didn't go out with other guys after what you have said to me. You said, that isn't the real girl I would be in love with. You're becoming more like my parents. You get upset and dislike many things about/from me. By "working this out", do you mean becoming serious, living together, and eventually get married? You have been involved with drugs, drinking, dealing with ghosts/demons though the board game, cutting yourself, and many more. I do not hate you for it. It is what you have experienced in your life. It is what you have been through. It is what make you who you are. I am not asking you to change you. You know what you want and you know what to do. I am not upset over what you have done in the past. Okay?

 The way you react toward the things I've show you, what you've discovered from being nosey, the way you react to what I've told you, is very annoying, and it made me feel like you're judging me. How can I be able to tell you everything if you're going to continue being this way, continue to see the wrongs I have done, and preaching me to do better than that?

 As for working things out, I do not want to marry you. I just simply wanted enjoy life as is, without looking for more in the future. There many things we can do, as individual. I learn what you like or what make you happy, then I will support that. You want to change your place, I help by giving ideas and suggestions. Not by putting my things into your place. I understand that you are happy with me and how I made a difference in your life for the better. I'm glad that I can give you good influence. I understand that you're trying to give the same good influence to my life. But no, it doesn't work the same way. One cannot force love or certain feelings to happened. I don't hate you. I like you. I love you as a friend. I do not like it when you're hanging on to me too close. I like it when you let me go, which in turn pulls you close to me for letting me go. I am not all for intimacy or romance, but I am all for about being in a comfort zone, where no one gets upset. You just have to understand that I do not have deep love for anyone. I can be concerned and thoughtful in my own way, but to feel deep love for someone, it is just not there. Okay?

 People with high morals means they will judge, and they have high expectations. People with high morals means I cannot meet or match their standards. Therefore, I rather to be away from them, and work on my own standards and build my way up from there, till I can fit in to whoever I wish to be with. I am sorry that I failed to meet your standard girlfriend/wife you wanted in your life.

A Year Later

It has been a year since I posted an update about living here. I got my own car shortly after I posted about January. It is a dark red (maroon) 1996 Mazda 626, for $1,600. It passed the safety inspection, but have number of minor parts that needs to be repaired. My dad took care of those things, except for fixing the axles. He will repair them soon when he's back from his business trip.

Work so far this month are doing well. I learned that there are only two groomers, and the rest of the workers in grooming shop are bathers. It appeared to be case where there are more bath dogs than for grooming dogs. Sounds good to me. The third groomer Erin moved to other town. I was told there will be other third groomer coming back to Petco. I didn't catch the name. Some days are fairly slow, with two or three dogs. One day was overbooked, having two standard poodles, plus two small dogs. It was pretty crazy. At least, I managed things quite well, despite when I become exhausted by the end of the day.

Yesterday, my mom & I went shopping together. I bought some clothes from Goodwill & Plato's Closet. I couldn't wait to wear them next week! (Because I work on Friday and Saturday.) I think I can wear one or two for church on Sunday.

I have been having dreams lately, which I don't mind and love having them. However, the other day, I dreamed where the focus was about causing or inflicting pain, physically & emotionally, to this fellow. The bad guys took away his girlfriend/wife, whom he love dearly, and took away his precious book/journal. Then they spend rest of the time torturing him, making him wishing he wants to die, but wouldn't allow him to. Finally at the end, he managed to escape, hiding among the peacemaker people in town, but the bad guys seems to always make hiding difficult. Before I woke up, he was being tracked down by dogs.

The dream I had this morning are weird and interesting. it's very long so and I didn't take the time to remember them as much as i can. I allow most of them to forget or slip away from my awaking memory. All I know it is something to do with making connection with people, animal, things...as if spreading energy from one to another, as if it's part of a quest or game, to past it on as much as possible.

Ah, I better go now. It is time for me to go to work. HUGS Have a NICE day!

The Day at Petco

March 5, 2011

Today is a regular grooming shift at Petco. I arrived at 11:15 am, and my first dog to groom was scheduled on 1 pm. So I spend two hours doing almost nothing. I sweep now and then. I toss the towels into the dryer and start another load of towels in the washer. The first dog is a lhasa-poo which I think he looked quite cute. I took him straight to the bathtub and get washing. I used sweet pea shampoo and conditioner. I handed-dry him as much as I can then put him away in the cage with two dryers set on the gate. I took the dry towels in and start folding and cutting out the friz part. The second dog came in, which is a black cocker. I bathed him with just shampoo and handed-dry him as much as I can then put him away in the cage with one dryer. I grab the lhasa-poo and set him up on the table and start grooming. The paper said to shaved-down with a #7 blade and do teddybear face with #5. Well, because it have a poodle sort of hair, #4 blade looked better than a #7 because otherwise, you can see the skin. I did the teddybear face bit longer than #5. I was glad that the costumer is happy with it. The cocker was just simple shaved-down with cocker ears and face/head. I spend somewhat too much time on his paws, just trying to make it look neat. I completed my work before 4pm. I was about to sweep up my work, when I was told to go ahead have meal break. So I ate the frozen meal. I learned that the microwave they have are not very good. Had to cook it twice as long, to ensure that nothing was still cold. After the meal break, I learned how to do the closing shift which was filling out couple of paperwork, lock the doors, turn off the lights, and of course making sure the floor are swept up and cages wiped clean. I left little before 6. Not a bad day of work. I discovered that I was scheduled to work on Tuesday and Wednesday at 1 pm. More hours of work for me, yay.

Maggie

Another Day in March

March 4, 2011

I worked for a short time at Petco today. I arrived on time at 11 am. It was actually kind of overwhelming. I mean, I don't quite feel it that way, but the information I need to become familiar with are quite overwhelming. It is not just about the grooming subjects, but also about interacting with the costumers to help increase the percentages of costumers using Petco products and grooming services. While I do not have a dog to take care of, I tried my best to study the “special services” that groomer offer and it's prices. I tried my best to study how to use the computer system, to fill in costumer's information and so on.

A black chow-chow show up, appearing quite thick with undercoat, and generally matted. He is there to be shaved down, rather than bath & brush, which is fine with me. I took him unto the grooming table and start shaving him down. I wasn't even done with his major part of his body, when Charles, the manager, shows up to discuss with the workers about the “new” system that we will practice, to increase costumer's attendance to Petco.

Finally, I turned my focus on the dog and managed to get all the long fur off of him. Then I put him back in the cage. I cleaned up and did whatever I could around the shop, then asked if I can or should Mike (the bather) do him. Turned out that I can go ahead bath him. I had trouble getting him into the tub because he's old. Jenna, the grooming manager, and I lift him into the tub. The water system was strange. I had to let it run for like 20 seconds because it will come out very hot. So almost every time I 'turn on' the water, I have to let it run “uselessly' til it cools off enough to be use on the dog. Anyways, bathing the shaved-down chow-chow wasn't difficult. I blow dry him as much as I can then I guided him back into the cage. I place two dryer tube on him. I cleaned around the shop, sipping the vanilla coke... 30 mins later, I decided to handed-dry him because who knows how long it would take for me to get him completely shaved-down and looking better, where he has to be done at 4:30. I handed-dry him and then place him unto the table carefully. I did my best to shave him and so on. It was completed before 4 pm.

I enjoyed their varies of 'perfumes' they have to offer. My favorites are 'sweet pea' and um great I forgot what... I'll get back to you when I remember them better. Or I'll write them down.

I will be back to work at Petco 11 am on Saturday till 7:30, or early if I'm done with everything. Goodnight and have a nice weekend! TGIF.

Maggie

First Day of March

Today is the first day of March of 2011.

Many good things has happened today. I got up little after 9 am, fiddling around with my iPhone, to chat with few people and listening to techno music. Then eventually I changed my clothes and did some reading: the Book of Mormon and Ensign. I wrote a brief journal on the Daily Devotion notebook. Then finally I went down stairs for lunch. I made myself a simple meal: melted cheese tortilla, dipping in homemade salsa, plus the Cola Coke drink. After making sure I have everything that are needed, I left the house. I drove my dad's red car to nearest Portland Community College (PCC), a small campus. It was drizzling with rain lightly, but I kept my hood up anyways. After asking where the test room located, I entered hesitantly and find that the lab room are full. I was told to wait for the available seating. Before I get comfortable playing the bejeweled game on my iPhone, I was lead into a different lab classroom and be seated before the desktop computer. The blank paper, sharp pencil and a calculator are provided. I logged into the test program with my username and password. With a deep breathe, I began. I completed the three parts of the test in two hours. I spend one hour during the writing test, about 40 minutes during the reading test, and 20 minutes during the math test. By the time I finally figured out how to use the calculator, it was too late. I returned to the test area, and get to be able to see the scores. Writing Skills score: 89. Reading score: 88. Math score: 33. I do not need any reading classes. A higher level of writing class are required. And of course, math classes are required. However, I do not signed up into this college to get a degree. I signed up for personal interest, to have one class to enjoy. I do not want to be a full time student. I am considering to have a Psychology class than to have a writing class. I got most of the things taken care of. Some I can do it myself at home online. I emailed the Psychology teacher for permission to take her class so I can be allowed to registered into PCC.

I stopped by Petco yesterday to require the manager to find out if there are any luck for me to be working there. I met a lady who's a manager as well, a manager assistant I assumed. I was told to wait for a bit for Charles, who is the head manager of Petco. I wandered around the store, read a book about Chihuahua. My young dog Frodo is mixed closely to Chihuahua type of breed. She finally came to me and asked me to return to Petco on Wednesday at 1 pm to do some paperwork and take care of something on the computer program. We shook hands and went our ways. On the way to exit, I was partly blocked by a man, who was looking at the box of plastic cage. Because I was in a good mood, I said a friendly hello. He was looking because he have a mouse at home, with a cat, and two little dogs. We had an idle but polite conversations, then finally I left.

Tomorrow will be a busy day for me. I have counseling at 9:15am in Portland. Visiting teaching at 10:45am at Arby's near 205 highway. Petco at 1:00pm for paperwork,to become officially employed. About time! Now it is after 10 pm, and I better type no more for the night and get some beauty sleep. Goodnight!

-Maggie Holt

2011 Is Here!

Of course, many people are wondering or creating a list of new (or old) goals for the new year in their life. While most people aim to lose weight, especially because of all the parties for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year, I am suppose to aim to gain weight. Of course in order to do that, eat five times a day...not a meal...but little bit of everything. Eat like a Hobbit. It may require plenty of planning and good list of food that would keep up with me, that are easy and quick to snack on, yet healthy enough to help balance out the system my body needs in order to recover.

Turned out that I won't be able to spend 2011 in Virginia, where I lived for a year and half in Roanoke. So much for living on my own. Loved my job. Location was nice enough where everything is close by. Living with a guy was fun, but it was a wrong guy. A shame that breaking up can't last long, and makes things worse. For safety sake, because of my weak willpower or corrupted emotions, to continue my life, the best thing to do is to move out of state, along with the protective/restraining order in hand that will expires two years later. Yeah, it was that bad.

Where will I be? Back to living with my parents in Oregon. Excited? Not really. Pretty much everything crumbled and like many things, have to start over again. I know it is not fun indeed, but for successful people, it is for the best. Who knows what comes along now in the next new life. New life or same old? Good question. Let's see....Skimming through my past five years of my life...yes there's improvement here and there...but alas the pattern remains the same, same cycle I endure. Surely there is hope, but I don't quite hang on it it. Am I becoming too comfortable with my old self now? Ah the punishment I give myself whenever I begin to improve. Weird I know. It doesn't seem right at all...not normal at all....

Last Sunday of April

Last Saturday the workers and I were part of the Dogwood Parade. We march around the town in Vinton with the other different groups, bands, and others. We march with several other people, holding a dog in hand, trotting along with us. Some of the dogs are dressed up in dog-outfit. One large white dog were colored all over, including glitters. An old golden retriever had several glitter design on the lower back. Yoda simply wears a red bandanna.  One other group I saw are about Adopt a Greyhound, with several greyhounds marching along. I saw two groups of young womens doing throwing sticks, and others carry large color flags, and other group had large-air-balloon-thingie...I couldn't figure it out what it is really, but it's what they have. Then after the parade, we went back to work, and I groomed three dogs and didn't get home till almost 10 pm.

Then I got up at 7 AM to get ready for church. Rode with the family to the Ward in Salem so I can take my car and drove into Cave Spring Ward. The sacrament meeting was great: the 1st speaker talked about forgiveness and 2nd speaker talked about atonement I think. The Sunday School class focus on Old Testament, about the journey with Moses, Idols, Temple, and so on. So much information so little time. Then Relief Society lesson was about Repentance. 

I went straight home to eat then cleaned up my bedroom (finally got my closet all set up and organized). Then I had about three hour nap, then had crepes and artichoke for dinner with the family. Now I'm back in my bedroom to fiddle with the blog and finally post something on this blog.

Adventure with a Rabbit

I was downstairs, just enjoying my family for a moment. I was waiting for the oatmeals to be ready for breakfast. I sat near the fireplace with the fire going. Katie decided to have the fire going this morning, to get rid of bunch of sticks from outside. Yoda stayed near me, and Noli sat down with me and read to me two books, which I think is really cute. However, while I attempt to match and fold the socks from their laundry, Noli tap my shoulder and signed "rabbit" and point into the big room. Katie nodded with an expression "yup something's in there". I was like what? So I went in there with Noli. She pointed at the blue IKEA loveseat. She got down on the floor to look under it. I did the same. "Rabbit under there?" At first I don't see anything, till I saw movement. WHOA! The rabbit is INSIDE the seat. I saw the bottom of the couch being press down by rabbit feet.

I returned to the kitchen, wonder how the heck did it get in there. Katie explained that we remembered that Ammon took the black rabbit out to be held and played with for a bit in the afternoon, but Ammon must have put the rabbit somewhere and forgotten about it. The rabbit was out of the cage, free to roam the house all night. They tried to catch it this morning (we still don't know if it's a girl/boy), but end up hiding inside the loveseat. I know they wanted to take it back into cage where there's food & water.

I went back into the big room, wanting to see if I can figure out a way to catch it. The rabbit was out, so Katie and Ammon quickly join in. I said block the couch!! We grab the blankets and stuff it under the couch. Then Ammon and I tipped over the other blue IKEA loveseat, to prevent the rabbit from going under where we couldn't reach. But the rabbit somehow managed to get inside, so the blankets didn't help. Katie said we'll have to wait for it to come out, and returned to the kitchen. I was thinking, no wait I'm going to wait for it to come out. So I got down and reach in, and just gently put my hands under the rabbit, which makes it move. I coax it to the hole and got it out. Ammon got excited, and the rabbit got back inside. I asked him to help out. But his arm are too short I guess so we got Katie back in the room. We coax the rabbit out, then Ammon and I quickly tipped the couch over so it cannot go back inside. Then Ammon managed to catch the rabbit and put it away.

Whew.

Four Weeks

It has been four weeks since I've last posted on this blog. I am so sorry for keep you guys at the edge to hear what's going on with my new job. On the bright side, I am going to get the new phone soon, hopefully this week, so I will be able to take bunch of pictures of the grooming work and have them posted unto the blog. It will be fun for you guys to have some visual idea of my grooming job. And even more fun to see the "before" and "after" photos of the dogs I will be grooming.

I've been earning some good money so far, which is something I'm keeping track of. I get paid every Friday. It was like this so far: $113, $269, $296, and $346.50. However, last Friday and Saturday were pretty slow, groomed only two dogs each day (unless I get four dogs each day instead of two) the payroll may be small. But we'll see how things are going.

Other than my job, I hope to be able to pay off some things that needs to be taken care of and have enough money saved to move into apartment by July, which is like two months from now. I couldn't wait!! Hopefully I can be able to afford the living on my own with my job. I know it is not a steady payment since it is a 50% commission. As long as I do a good job and keep customers happy and coming back for another one, I'll be okay.

Short Day

"Honey, I'm home!"

I have two dogs scheduled for me for today at work, but one who's coming in at 4:30 ended up canceled and was rescheduled to the next day. The 1st dog was just a short hair Aussie. The morning bather named Toni bathed her and I just take care of the drying, nails, and ears. No biggie. I spend the rest of the time talk with Toni and Andrea. She told me that there will be a meeting coming up soon, though probably more like a party (free dinner). However, I will go to work at 11: 30 AM tomorrow to work on three, maybe four, dogs.

One thing I'm really excited to do is create fliers and website for her business. And yes she'll pay me to have it set up. I better get working on it and so on. Allow me to start working on fliers first as I learn how to do websites along the way. Whoo-hoo!

Have a nice day!

Two Days

I have one hour to kill before heading to work for today. I had about 10 hours of sleep. I am all dressed for work and I had lunch (leftover chicken meat, potatoes, and two slice of homemade bread w/ jam). Today is Thursday and I should have two dogs for me. I was told that one dog is a touchy type of dog; doesn't like having paws and face touched. It'll be tricky for me to groom, which would take lot of patience and tolerance.

The first day of work, which was Tuesday, I groomed two dogs: a black toy poodle and a smooth-fur-coat terrier. I get to be able to leave early (not having to wait for the owner) and got home at 5 or 5:30. Just in time for dinner. So yes, I bathed and groomed them in less than three hours. Oddly, I've been sneezing and my nose were running. Allergies?! A ferret lives in Doggie Doos. That could be it?

The second day of work, which was Wednesday (yesterday), I groomed another two dogs: Pekingese/Maltese mix, though they looked very much like Shih-Tzu. I bathed and groomed them; it took me a while to groom due to their matted areas. I stayed behind to clean, meet the owner and watched E.R. TV show. I arrived home at 7 PM. I had lunch and I took the allergy pills before heading to work: No sneezing or running nose, but I became light-headed, or blood drained from the head, at the end. I drank a bottle of Nutritional Shake at 3 or 4. So it was odd.

Let's hope the work today wouldn't be so mysteries with my body.

Doggie Doos

It started off on Thursday where I received a forwarded (from my sister Katie) of an ad from Craigslist.com of a place that is now hiring for an experienced dog groomer. With a sigh, I emailed a respond to the ad of my resume, expecting nothing from it. On the same day, in the evening, Katie got a phone call who asked couple of questions about my working experience and was asked to come for the interview. I couldn't have the interview next day because Friday was when I teaches ASL Classes. So the interview was all set on Saturday at 5 PM. You could imagine me being excited and happy, but I wasn't. I was in the middle of sweeping up the floor, to prepare for the classes next day.

The ASL Classes on Friday was a success. The kids had fun; I had fun. It was all good.

Saturday: I showered and got dressed up and went to Ladies Luncheon at New Century Church. I really enjoyed that event very much. There are round tables with fancy design and decoration in different themes. I joked that it was a good idea for the wedding. I sat at a table #3 with two deaf persons, two hearing persons who knows signs (one of them are translator), and three other ladies. The funny thing about it was that there were three named Jennifer. A translator, deaf woman, and a hearing lady are named Jennifer. Fun Fun. The food are WONDERFUL. I couldn't believe how delicious it was. I could have gotten the second plate, but the speaker started. This lady talked about "What does it take to make you happy?" and used example of beautiful gift box but it's empty inside.  She talked about her own life and how she discovered Christ and became a happy person. At the end of the talk, the gift box was filled with chocolate.

Then I finally left after chatting with the ladies and got home. I was about to get ready to change into dog grooming outfit when Katie said she needs me to keep an eye on the kids while she do quick food shopping with my car. So I keep an eye on the kids, mostly baby Abe. He was a good boy most of the time. Then I took him up into my bedroom to change clothes then took him outside with me, while I watch and wait for Katie to return home so I can quickly leave and be on the way to work. I was glad to make it about five or ten minutes early. The driving there wasn't too bad.

The groomer of 20 years named Andrea (I think) and there are two bathers. I missed the 1st bather's name who left shortly after brief hello. The 2nd bather's name is Gina and she will be my bather for the 2nd shift. I also met Andrea's mother who is partly the owner of the space, I think. They are very laid back people. I had fun chatting with Andrea. I groomed a yorkie/maltie mix. It was somewhat tough due to fine fur which was hard to keep it smooth looking, not sticking out. I stayed at the shop for like two hours or so. Then I finally went home (with $20 cash in hand) with a good news that I will start working on Tuesday at 2pm.

Yes, I got the job at Doggie Doos Grooming Salon. There is no website of that shop so I cannot post the link about it here. My work schedule is basically like this: Tuesday to Saturday = 2 PM to 9 PM. The payment are 50% commission as usual. Should be able to earn $315 per week. Right now for a start, I will be going slow. Starting with one or two or maybe three dogs. Then it will build up to four or five dogs per day for me.

Painting My Life

I want to have control of my life.
I want to be happy with myself.
My future is like a blank sketchbook.
There are simple colors to choice from.
Each colors can be mixed or be use solo.
The colors are created along the surface of life.
Little by little...
Sometimes we can see it is becoming,
but sometimes we see it so confusing.
At times I focus intensively at a corner
till I become frustrated without so much
of an approval outcome as I wanted.
There are times where I wish I could
tear apart the sheet to thousand of pieces.
To hide the pain or overwhelm emotions
I force it to become worse, the messier the better.
Till it become nothing but black mucky surface.
But no pain or emotions in sight.
But the black remains and becomes a reminder.
I often frown at the white pure surface ahead of me.
It is too clean, too much for me. It needs something!
I would quickly grab something red and slap it across the surface
as if trying to give it as much pain as I can accept
But it is not enough. It needs something; I need something!
AT the moment of panicking, I managed to step back and breathe.
Gasping for some air, trying to calm down and clear up the mind.
Blinking through her tears, she stares at her mess. Another mess.
How many clean sheets she has to go through, again and again
Till there is nothing left, till it is too late.
I sit down and refuse to move, and look mournfully at the mess.

Before Christmas

I found this uncompleted draft I typed out in the email and it is without address. So I wasn't sure who I was suppose to send it to. Instead I decided to post it here because I think it is well-written. 
Dec 24th 2009
Today is a good day. I woke up in the sleeping bag on the green-plaid couch, looking out the bay window. It was black outside. The family room was lite by Christmas light that was hang around a small fake pine tree and on top of the fireplace. I sighed, wondering what time is it. I wrestled myself out of the sleeping bag and stumbled into the kitchen just to check the time on the microwave. 6:30 it said...or something around than as I could faintly remembered. I slide back in the sleeping bag to try to go back to sleep.
I woke up again with a muffle sharp barking sound. Ah Pumpkin, the short tan-colored fur young dog, wanted to play. The little black and white dog named Yoda was tugged in the sleeping bag with me, ignoring her barks. She kept barking till I pushed Yoda off the couch. I watched them as I slowly become fully awake. Yoda tugged himself under the chair, keeping Pumpkin at bay where she barked some more, begging to play. I saw the rest of my family are awake, too. My mom was holding 1 yr old Abe on a rocking chair. My dad was fixing something in the wooden tank box. After some random trains of thoughts and some time later, I got dressed and had small breakfast. My mom and my sister explained me what they wanted and needed from me, jotting down the list. I grab the purse and key and head out.
It felt so nice to drive along the country road again. The thick snow are still on the ground except for roads and other areas were shoveled away.
––––•(-• Maggie •-)•––––

45 Lessons in Life

 I got a forward from my mom and I thought I'd copy and paste them here. Enjoy. 

45 Lessons in Life

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.
5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.
8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.
13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.
16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.
23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
24. The most important sex organ is the brain.
25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words ''In five years, will this matter?".
27. Always choose life.
28. Forgive everyone everything.
29. What other people think of you is none of your business...
30. Time heals almost everything. Give time, time.
31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
33. Believe in miracles.
34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.
35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.
37. Your children get only one childhood.
38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.
41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
42. The best is yet to come.
43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
44. Yield.
45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.

Let It Snow!

Today is the first day of snow in Virginia. It has been snowing since early morning. Well, it finally stopped just now I looked out the window. I'm sitting on my bed with a body pillow across my lap so I can type on my laptop comfortably. I have a little heater running in the bedroom. I'm wearing three layers of clothes. I'm munching on honey-nut cheerios from a bowl and drinking water. I did two papers of water-color paintings this morning. It was a fun thing to do and experiment. My boyfriend's birthday is coming up in 17 days. All I could think of are Bats.

Surprised Kitty

---

Yesterday was a strange day for me. I woke up and saw that it was a very gloomy day, cloudy and dull outside. I was feeling strange, which I thought was probably because of the dull weather. I struggled to wake up and get my mind to become alert to prepare for ASL class. But my mind was being fussy. I went downstairs to let Yoda out and to eat breakfast. It was when I noticed my body feeling sick: weak and achy. I told Katie that I think I'm feeling sick. I went back upstairs to resume what I was about to do, but I find myself taking many short sleep, almost unable to stay away. I was quite sleepy. I wondered if I have a fever, since my body was feeling warm but at the same time sometimes feeling cold inside. I went back down and took a thermometer. It was 99.8. Uh-oh? Katie didn't think it was a fever at all, but I think it is about it nevertheless since I know my normal temperature was slightly below general body temperature. I returned to my bedroom Managed to get about half way done, with short sleeps. Then finally I decided to bring my laptop and the papers and a book down to help keep myself away. I have an hour left to complete. I typed down the list of sentences and opposite words to be printed out. I sat on the couch with a scissor, waiting for the papers to be printed out then I'll cut them up but I fell asleep on the couch. Katie cut them out herself. Ammon woke me up five minutes before time for the class at 1pm.

I sat on the 'teacher' chair and waited for the all the children to be here. Earlier while I was sleeping, I thought of a fun way for me to demonstrate more of ASL about Thanksgiving but I do not have the energy to do it. So I had to create two games to get the students to do most of the work, allowing me to rest and give them brief instructions.  Katie did good helping out with the class as well. The two games are basically having two groups, boys and girls. Group A have to sign a sentence they drew out of the cup and Group B had to tell them what they signed. They did a fairly good job and they had fun with it. The next game was simply taking turns in drawing out a small piece of paper that contain one word on it. One had to sign that word, say for example Cold. The class had to sign the opposite: Hot. Lastly, the oldest student Elizabeth, whom I think is 14 yr old (though she looked older), brought her book to sign for the class. It was a good book because it have good new words to practice on. Two weeks ago, I mentioned the idea of having a one-on-one with Elizabeth. Her mother told me that she liked that idea today. We agreed that we'll do that on Friday starting in January. Whew. I was told in the email that there was suppose to be another student wanted to join, but he/she hasn't show up. I think I would need to announce that those who wanted to join would need to wait till January.

Anyhow, as soon as I can say goodbye to all and return to my bedroom, I went straight to sleep. (no lunch) I slept for two hours. Then woke up in time when Ralph got home from work. We chatted on AIM for a bit then on Videophone for a bit. Then I went back to sleep. But I woke up feeling quite hot, and I decided to go check out the thermometer again and it came up 100.5. Finally a fever. I ate chicken noodle soup, bit of cereal, and some water. I noticed myself feeling slightly better, more like feeling restless, tired of sleeping so much. So Ralph and I get to chat some more on the Videophone. And I was starting to feel more and more at myself. Not feel too weakly like the previous chat. Then I decided to go ahead sleep for the night, which was about after midnight.

I woke up feeling quite fabulous, just tiny part of me feeling sick, but most of me feeling alert and full of energy! And I'm glad to finally type up a long email. I had three pieces of waffles and a cup of milk and after quickly changing my clothes, I ran out to feed the chickens after I was told that the weather wasn't too chilly. I gotta do something!

Little Poem of November

A month of Thanksgiving.
A month of Harvesting
A month of changing
From the heat of the sun
To the cool wind in the air
From the green forest
To the colorful landscape

Missing October

The whole month of October was VERY SLOW. [-.-] In fact, I've only worked TWICE that month at work. Lame I know. However on the bright side, each week on Wednesday at 1 PM I teach ASL Class at home. Just for $5 per person per class. So I earn $10 each week. The good news was that the other family decided to join into the class at the fourth week of the class, and I earned $20! Then even better, just last Wednesday, a gal who is close to my age decided to join, and I earned $35. (She gave me $20 to pay for four classes.) *[^.^]*