Starting from Scratch, once again.

This may be just like any other post, except THIS time I have a plan and 5% more determination than before.

Reading my new Psychology Today magazine, I found an inspiring article.  The Pursuit of Happiness by Carlin Flora jumped started my low drive.  Everyone’s searching for happiness through media outlets such as audio CD’s, youtube lectures and law of attraction blogs you can keep refreshing your happy state.

Three of the personal stories pushed me into action.  First, I found their websites: www.zenhabits.net and www.happiness-project.com.  These people, just like me, were lost in their life paths and unsatisfied with their direction. Their internal discomfort motivated them to create the change slowly but steadily.

I still plan on writing about the funny mishaps of my blended lesbian family, but this blog will be more of a source for others to inspire and create their own change.

Hmmm I can’t wait to see how this will turn out!

Beverly Eckert, 9/11 widow, on the doomed Continental Crash in Buffalo

I woke up in a cantankerous mood. Stubbed my toe. Water split on clothes running out the door. And I failed at finding my Zen.  Muttering under my breath, “this life suck” and “I hate my life” negatives.

Then there is the reality check. God’s angels forcing YOU to look in the mirror or at least bang you into one until you see the world with new eyes.

I rebooted my laptop and checked the news.  Google trends is my addiction. I like to know where the worlds stands and what makes them google.  I refreshed the page and I view a name that’s “volcanic.”  Beverly Eckert, a 9/11 widow flew to Buffalo on the doomed Continental Connection flight 3407 to visit her deceased husband’s home town for what would have been his 58th birthday.  Another life taken, by another tragedy.

I am left with more questions for my maker.

According to ABC News Political Punch:

Eckert publicly told the story of Rooney calling her from the World Trade Center to say he loved her when there was a loud explosion and then silence.

I wonder who she called, if there was warning the plane was going down?

Lesson learned: to be grateful of every second. Resist the urge to fight with a loved.  Let your EGO simmer down, and respond with LOVE, even in the drama moments.   And never go to bed angry.

It’s age old advice, but maybe we all need to get back to the basics.

Long Island Valentine’s Day Events and DEALS!

My partner and I spent Saturday morning cutting coupons, our guru is the “coupon mom.” She was on Oprah talking about “how to cut your grocery bills” and bragging about how she single handily SAVED $75,000 JUST by cutting coupons. We were pumped! Cash dollars floated around in my head like sugar plums to a child before Christmas. It’s not just the economy making me save, I want to have another child. I will do what I need to cut spending and SAVE!

We started out with a bang until supermarket psychology foiled our plans, once again! Distracted by packaging and placement of products, we rounded out the week in last place with a whopping $300 total! What went wrong? First, we went hungry. Damn this South Beach Diet! It leaves me craving sugar and delicious decadent carbs all of which I cannot have while on the plan.   Second, we didn’t buy around the store sales circular. Last, we threw out our list and kept picking up item after item.

GOOD news: We are not discouraged, hope will bring us BACK to the grocery store with a box of coupons and a list. We will walk the stores with a full belly and will coach each other through our ‘weakness’ aisles.

However, we stuck to our diet. We have been on the South Beach Diet. I am doing it for moral support.  Even though I don’t have that much weight to lose, I feel awesome! I haven’t had a headache in days, must have been the carbs.

Good news for you: www.yourLI.com is sending love and SAVINGS to all Long Island families. www.yourLI.com has Valentine Events with deals in the surrounding area and money saving coupons from beauty to restaurants.

If you don’t live close to the Long Island deals, why not start finding deals in your area and think of ways to cut unnecessary grocery spending, too!  Write a list AROUND your stores sales circular. It’s a start!

Ain’t nothing gonna’ breaka my stride….

It’s Friday! I am ready for the challenge. Bring it on! If you dare.  My fiery red head usually tests my patience in the AM with his “aching bones” and drama stories to delay school preparation.  Usually, the oatmeal is to ‘juicy’ or not enough Agave Nectar and honey, which leads me back to the kitchen fixing the formula so it will pass his temperamental taste buds.

My job will be waiting with deadlines.  I may work this weekend, if I don’t succeed.  I am not worried. I wake up at warrior hours – 6 AM, due in LARGE part to an overfed and overstuffed Cocker Spaniel who thinks breakfast should begin. I can post a blog or two, even twitter some deals for yourli.com.  I will do this because I love the product and I believe in it.

I am not going to be fazed by people who gossip about me. Nor will I be a part of gossip.  I won’t let my perception push me down into isolation.  I AM not backing down to life today. I will laugh. I will remain calm. AND most of all I am positive.  EVEN when I am running a TAD bit late for work due to my red head’s loss of attention to a snow pile or his casual stroll to the car because he has no worries.  I will not … nope.. you can’t make me get my feathers ruffled over back seat drivers or front seat Sunday strollers.  I will laugh when my son’s fast food promotional toy (Madagascar 2) will sing it’s usual “I like to move it.. move it” as I make a quick right or left into avenues and roads until reaching my destination.

C’mon, people! LAUGH… LIVE… and most of all LOVE- it’s freaking Friday!

I’m baaaaaackkkkk!

Here I am!

It’s been awhile. Life locked me in a tight grip. Today I feel a moment of boredom. I can challenge myself, I thought, with a new post to an old blog.  The Shlape Saga’s has been on hiatus on the world wide web BUT not in reality. We won challenges and survived dramas most agitated by each others mood swings.

In this moment, I am fresh out of words.  They are within me but not ready to behave into creative thoughts. I can compromise. I will give them the night off.  I have been busy all day using my imagination and writing skills for my job as a Web Content ‘Manager’.  At least I was a Web Content Manager until I went back to part time work. I needed to balance my life.  It’s a work in progress.

I seem to like my job, which frightens me. I have never LIKED a job.  I have adjusted, conditioned and numbed myself to jobs but never liked one (that I can remember). I am learning all about Social Media Marketing, since I am a psych major I utilize my degree. My parents are proud! I want everyone to know about us, www.yourLI.com.  It is a newly launched website that helps Long Island families save money with thousands of Long Island coupons from local businesses.  If you want like pizza or sushi you can search by the name, category and zip code/town name.  Just click, print & SAVE.

Check it out: www.yourLI.com

I am off to find some new research on The South Beach Diet. I plan on starting the plan. Although I only need to lose about 5 lbs, I also want to be healthy. Plus I want to be a support system for my beautiful life partner. She needs/wants to lose weight for herself and our soon to be California trip.   I made a delicious spiced roasted Eggplant and Peruvian Chicken with steamed green beans.  It’s a healthier choice, getting back to nature instead of grabbing a bag of chemicals.

PEACE!

Making it “legit”: Linked to longer lasting gay relationships

I’m argumentative partly from birth, environment and the modeling theory.  This character defects can work with me or against me. My lovely life partner often traps herself like an innocent insect in a spider’s den.  Nonchalantly a word or phrase comes out of her loose lips without proper filter.  The verbal battle begins without warning, she attempts to throw up the white flag, but I am quick and always ready to battle even if I have to fight with air.  People have commented that my calling should be in the legal field.  Fighting for the innocent and prosecuting the guilty would please my argumentative nature.
Throughout our five year relationship, there have been some “doozies”; with energy invested negatively, each thought the dissolution of our bond. Thankfully God is not listening to my mother’s prayers, and He keeps us together yet another day. There have been moments, days, weeks where we both wanted “out”.  It’s natural; some of the “heteros” are in the same boat.  They call it the “7 year itch” but when the man strays or the wife plays before the 7 years the “heteros” call it the “2 or 3 or 4 year itch”.
What makes me stay and work out the kinks? For one, I am never going to find anyone that deals with the “ALL” of me! I have mood swings.  I am hyper sensitive.  I am a control freak.  I am an isolator. I am stubborn.  Oh, I can produce a list of personality defects a hallway list long.  I stay too because when stars are aligned and the Universe is slightly balanced we complete each other.  There is laughter, in fact years of laughter.  Our memories, I can create into a Lifetime special.  It’s not hard to see we both are in love with each other. You don’t have to squint nor put on your thicker bifocals.  Look past the arguing, we blend.
Why stray? Why leave?  I believe in the “grass is always greener on the other side” theory.  No matter what may look appealing, there will be that morning where you roll over and see your “goddess” sleeping next to you with drool escaping from open mouth or some cold cream battling the age factor.  There is NO ONE that looks that sexy 24/7.
While clicking through the net, I found some interesting information in regards to same sex relationships. I am all about learning especially when it comes to anything that truly tickles my fancy or has to relate to my lifestyle.  In an article on 365gay.com a “study released shows that legalized same sex coupled relationships appear to be longer lasting than those without a legal status.”  There is evidence to support the claim as well as reasons.  According to 365gay.com “researchers from the University of Washington, San Diego State University and the University of Vermont, the study is the first to examine the experiences of couples in the five years since Vermont legalized civil unions, and the results appear in the publication of Developmental Psychology.”
Reasons for longer ties:
•    Acceptance and understanding from friends, family, co workers.
•    Legal, medical, financial protections and benefits

These are just some of the motives Robert-Jay Green, executive director of the Rockaway Institute, a national center for LGBT research, education and public policy at Alliant International University in San Francisco was able to compile in his study.
The article produces statistics and variables that may intrigue.  If you are interested in Methodology and gay relationships check out: http://www.365gay.com/news/082608-relationship-study/
One interesting “in your face to the straight community” fact  found on 365gay.com, “In contrast to old myths about same-sex couples being deficient or less viable than male-female couples , this research project shows that same-sex partners who seek to legalize their relationships actually may be among the best functioning couples in this society,” said Green.”
With that information wouldn’t the world be a better place to “Live~Love~Laugh” if they would just let the gays wed the gays?  ‘NUFF SAID!
Peace!

“To my Lesbian Lover”

“Although we’ve only been together one week I think it’s time for the U haul. Let’s blend wardrobes. Your house or mine?”
“As we prepare ourselves for a life united in wedded bliss there is one thing I will always know, you are always right!”
“It’s your birthday. Let’s paint the town rainbow colors, scare some Catholics and make the boys drool. Your still my #1 sexy lesbian lover.”

Last night I was doing my usual searching on several different sites. As I read through Digg, MSN, Topix top stories I stumbled upon Gay.com. Reading a news article while on line shopping for the kids back to school clothes I was pleasantly surprised that progress is being made in the gay world.
Hallmark introduces Gay marriage cards (reason for my creative quotes above).
According to a Digg article, Hallmark, seeing a new market after California ruling, is beginning to roll out gay marriage greeting cards.

I think I should pitch some ideas to Hallmark. I mean I AM the one who is usually ranting and raving in my house and finding myself with pride high and eyeballs low to the floor forcing an “I’m Sorry” AT LEAST once a day. And those apologies are NOT easy for a stubborn sista’ like me. Hallmark may have made my life easier if they could create some useful yet creative ways to say “I’m Sorry” or “I love you, just because I think that girl is hot does not mean I want to leave you.” kinda cards.

I don’t know about anyone else but I got ideas, and I may just leave my day job to enter the gay card writing market.  I’m thinking.  I’m scheming.  I’m brainstorming.  Now if I could only work on my follow through, it sucks!  I can see myself sipping a Bud while lounging at my “villa” in the tropics because the gay masses are grabbing my cards as they fly off the shelves.  Hey, a girl can dream can’t she?!

Here’s to dreams and wishes becoming realities! It’s Friday, one of my wishes already came true!

read more | digg story

Dave Matthews Band Saxophonist, LeRoi Moore, Has Passed Away

“DMB saxophonist is dead. I don’t know who DMB is but that’s sad!”
My partner casually blurted the news while sipping coffee on our Queen sized bed. I gasped reading the headline “it’s Dave Matthews Band”, the laptop was in visible view of my peripheral vision.
According to the Huffington Post :
“Moore was seriously injured in an ATV accident June 30 outside Charlottesville. He had a punctured lung and broken ribs. Moore went back into the hospital last month due to complications.
Moore died in Los Angeles this afternoon, after taking a turn for the worse.
We’re also told the band will perform tonight as scheduled at the Staples Center in L.A.”

Back in 2000 I ventured to Connecticut with some friends to listen to the “jam sessions” live, I could not say I watched since we tailgated before the concert and were “double fisting” throughout the show, too. The man had skills. It’s hard to swallow. I question my faith, it’s a tragedy when a gifted young musician like Moore could pass away suddenly.  Maybe God needed him to be backup for the Angel Choir. Some say “he’s at a better place.”
According to reports Dave spoke to the crowd at the Staples Center in Los Angeles after the first song, “We all had some bad news today,”  “Our good friend LeRoi Moore passed on and gave his ghost up today and we will miss him forever.” Dave later made a reference to his late friend “”It’s easier to leave than be left.”

It makes you appreciate your life. For me, when I hear news about death, I find my grateful button and it centers me. On a typical day you will hear me whine about my job, kids, pets, relationship, extended family, friends … In this moment I am blessed for all the grief and stress.

There is a quote that my best friend and “soul sister for life” loves:

Life is not the amount of breaths you take, it’s the moments that take your breath away.

In this moment I am laughing, loving and living.

I am thankful for my breaths… I am blessed for the present and all that I have.

Can you find your grateful button?

read more | digg story

Caution: Bad MOOD ahead!

I am having a terrible, no good, very bad morning! I know…. I know…”change your thoughts and change your day.” I don’t want to self help my inner child. She is entitled to revolt every once in awhile.

I must have woken up on the wrong side of the bed last night.
Who thought of that? I guess I shouldn’t care because it will be my excuse for the day. Come to think of it I use that bullshit a lot. I can’t wait until Friday.

Is it Friday yet? If I blink three times, like Dorothy her heels on The Wizard of Oz, will I STILL be sleeping in my favorite position? Wouldn’t it be grand if we could get three fantasy wishes a day? I want to think creatively, if I swallow a Red Bull with some potent java magic MIGHT happen. Words are hard to sort through in my mental file cabinet at the moment.

As I greet the new day, I may just decide to stew in angry thoughts.
They rev me up like some metal bands.
It does not take much for me to boil over with negative energy.

Today it involves McCain, his anything goes attitude and cannonball comments, his PR reps who do double duty with damage control and the GAYS. It is quite comical to watch him spit out sewage ,seconds later his peeps air freshen the Universe.

I need to get me a PR rep. In fact, that would be a “fantasy” wish for Hump Day! Imagine how my world would move if I HAD a PR REP helping me through my blunders, bleeps and bloopers. Especially while I’m working. There is way to much male hormones stuffed into the small office that I occupy. They make the usual “dumb blonde jokes”, It’s Carmel coloring dammit! I slide in a dig from time to time. Sometimes they tilt there head like my confused Wheaten Terrier. Enter DAMAGE CONTROL DIVA, she got it “going on” (3 snaps in a Z formation people). Her quick witted mind is no match for them.

I blink three times, and I am back to reality. I am ready to face the day.

Random

I need to post. I have to push myself into the writing rhythm. Also, because even though I am still “tippin’ my 40″ I need to push “Bozo the Clown” down a few post, he scares the shit out of me (in my whisper voice).

Let’s Talk:

I just read that Jessica Alba had a baby girl. Where was I under a rock?
Jessica “Holy Hot” Alba had a baby a few weeks ago, and I have seen recent pics of her, she looks better than anyone on the planet. I don’t care how she is losing the baby weight. Hell, I wouldn’t mind if she uses her index finger while hurling the calories down the porcelain god (although I would be concerned and shocked reading about it on digg.com).
This is one “delish” picture of her, I don’t care if this is before baby, give her credit where credit is due people and salivate.

Last, I was pleasantly surprised to read that Jessica named her child, Honor Marie. We actually KNOW an Honor Marie, folks! In fact, when the kids were smaller, since Honor Marie is our middle child’s age (and BFFL), they created their own band and made a song called, “HONOR MARIE”.
Jessica call us if you need someone to sing a sweet lullaby.
Meee meeeee meeee meeee meeee mmmeeeeeee mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmeeeeeeeeeee, getting the vocals ready J.I.C. “Honor Honor Honor Marie….”