Mutual Respect - A thing of the past?

When did mutual respect become a thing of the past? Something that no one seems to follow, understand, or comprehend in their lives. When did life become so busy that keeping a friendship going strong just didn't make a difference? When a friend is blatantly having a very tough time with life, when did people stop asking if they were okay? Or stop to take the time to actually listen to them when they're not?

**WARNING** Whining, complaining, and bitching commencing**

I know life is crazy, heck - I just spent the last 2 weeks in CT with my family dealing with the loss of one of my closest friends from HS, coping with the earthquake that happened here in VA, and then the hurricane that came up the coast and knocked power out for 6 days at my mom's house.. added on to the fact I haven't seen my husband in over a month due to unforeseen circumstances... but yet, I still try to chit chat with people, stay involved, and keep tabs on who is going through what so I can send prayers, love, and attention their way. Yes, this may sound a little bit greedy; but aren't we all entitled to a little bit of attention and greed from our friends/family? I think so!

I think we're all entitled to want just a smidge of attention when we're having a tough time, and to complain and bitch, and whine and moan is exactly what I'm going to do. I'm sick of being ignored, I'm tired of feeling like I've got no one to turn to except my parents and my husband (who all have other lives besides me, obviously). I make friends for a REASON and if that reason is for nothing more than supporting each other, so be it. But that support is not a one way street in my life. Either you give support to receive support, or you get nothing from me. I'm so over some people, it's so not even funny!!! (This is not aimed at anyone directly, but if you choose to take this offensively take a look at our "friendship" and it might be implied towards you!!!)

**THANK YOU** Whining, complaining, and bitching completed**

10 Years Ago - A decade!

There are a million and one things I could say. There are a thousand prayers I could pray. There's hundreds of things I could try to do to "help".

At the end of the day - none of it matters. At the end of the day all that can ever be "done" is to honor, remember, and love.

Honor those that serve this country every day. I do not mean JUST our military, I also mean our fire, police, and first responders. I mean people who put their lives on the line daily in our very own communities to ensure our safety as American citizens. Honoring our military is also important, they leave their families for days, weeks, months, and even sometimes years at a time. They sacrifice and risk their lives every day for what happened a decade ago, today.

Remember those that were in the towers the day they fell, the Pentagon the day it was hit, the people who were just flying to a new destination the day they were driven into one of the most horrific days in US History. Remember the public service members that were lost trying to find the people who were buried in the rubble. Remember those that have fought and busted butt to defend our country. Remember the Seal Team 6 that killed Osama Bin Laden, and then later sacrificed their own lives to ensure our safety. Remember why. Remember who. Remember them all!

Love each other. Love our country. Love those that you've got close to you. Tomorrow may never come, accept and appreciate and love the time we've got together now while we've got it. Just Love.

At the end of the day - all that can be done now, a decade later; honor, remember, and love.


Always remember, never forget!    9/11/2001

"Part Time Friends" aka "Fair Weather Friends"

Okay - so I've kinda been having this issue with people who are only friends when it's convenient for them. Ya know, when they want something/need something/don't wanna be alone/etc etc etc...?! I'm so over this whole theory, I'm sick and tired of people who only want a friend when it's convenient for them. I'm either and all weather friend, or no friend at all! I don't like this whole idea behind "I only want to be friends when it's convenient for me" theory, I'd just as soon loose a friend over that kinda stuff than keep them when I don't mean much to them.

My friendships are about quality NOT quantity, and I've noticed that so many people lately are all about whose got more "friends"! Why does it matter if you've got 300 or 3,000 friends? If you don't know 3/4 of the people that you're "friends" with then why bother having them in your life?! I just don't understand why, why people can't stand to be friends ALL the time or NONE of the time.

Here's my thought. If you're from my hometown and we hardly talk, then to me it's understandable - we're 500 miles away! BUTTTTTTT if we're "new" friends, friends since I've moved to VA, and you can't find time to keep me as a part of your life - then see ya. I'm not asking for contact EVERY day, I'm not asking to spend time with you every waking moment, I'm simply asking for a text or a phone call or a quick message here and there saying "hey, how ya doin?" Is that too much to ask? Like, I'm honestly asking if that is too much to ask? I know life is crazy, I know life can be super busy, but fact of the matter is when my husband came home from being away for a YEAR I still tried to text/call/keep in contact with everyone at least a little...

Anyways, that's my rant, my run down, my big mouth voicing how I feel!

Today is a happier day :)

To those of you that are concerned for me, and haven't yet spoken with me since my last post - I'm fine. I promise. Like I said, sometimes in life I fall down (pretty often actually) and loose myself, my motivation, and the fire that is usually lit under my ass. It happens to everyone, but most people can pick themselves up and keep on moving without noticing it - most of the time I can too. Sometimes I just need a boost, a friend, and shove in the right direction. Knowing people were concerned for me is a good thing, knowing people are worried for mine and my daughter's well being is a great feeling, but I promise everyone (if there's anyone) that reads this: I will never put my daughter, myself, my family, or my life in a situation that may become potentially hazardous or dangerous in ANY way! If I feel that I need to be on medicine to handle my personal stuff, I will be and I will NOT be ashamed to be because that's what would be best for my family!

Anyways, I'm past that. The drama queen has ruffled her feathers and taken a walk to Hollywood (at least that's where she SHOULD go if she's gonna be SO dramatic!) and is no longer a concern of mine. :D A couple good friends of mine gave me a handful of good laughs this evening, and yesterday, which has definitely bumped my mood. The kiddo has been (mostly.. but what almost 2 years is ALWAYS?!) well behaved, I got a good 2 hour nap in today, and my photography facebook page is growing in leaps and bounds. I'm super stoked to get my dream moving and make my photography my reality, instead of just a dream! :D

I've got another post brewing about "Part Time Friends" but that's gonna wait for another day, I'm going to simmer in the happiness that is today and run with it :)

This is ME!

So, I've been a horrible blogger lately.. but oh well.

I've had a few emotional impacts in my journey in the last few days, and I've come to this conclusion. I'm ME! Take me. Leave me. Love me. Hate me. I DON'T CARE ANYMORE!!!!

If I'm not the kind of person you want to surround yourself with, leave. If you don't like what I have to say on Facebook or in my day to day rantings, LEAVE. If you are offended that I am who I am, leave!

I am sick of buttering up to people, sick of being nice because I don't want to hurt people's feelings. I'm sick of trying to be TOO nice and being walked all over.

Guess what, sometimes life is hard for me and sometimes I just need a day - or 2, or 14 - to get back on MY feet and stand up for myself again.. it happens that I do so often fall down. Sometimes I can get up again on my own, sometimes I need a little shove, but at the end of the day if you want to be my friend - COOL! If you decide that what I've said is offensive, rude, outlandish, or just flat out not YOUR type of talk - WALK AWAY!

I'm sick of this, sick of being nice, sick and flipping tired of people thinking that because I'm sad, or lonely, that I need a doctor - I DON'T! I'm not clinically depressed, I'M JUST SAD! I'm not suicidal, I JUST WANNA HIT SOMETHING (sometimes! but who doesn't?!)

I'm not going to put myself OR MY DAUGHTER in danger, if that WERE the case I'd commit myself without a second thought. 

I'm a mother, I'm a wife, I'm proud of who I am and where I'm going in my life and if you can't support me, my decisions, my profession, or my family - then fuck off!

Bad blogging mommy!

I know, slap me on the wrist, I keep slipping up. But, life is life and it's insane some days more than others, and those that aren't so insane and I don't have to bea the computer I'm not wanting to be. I promise, I've got lots more opinions, feelings, and vents/rants to go on in the near future!!

PLEASE KEEP WATCHING OUT FOR MY WRITINGS! :P

RIP Navy Seal Team 6

I'm only going to say this once; like it or don't, that's your choice::

Loosing 31 MORE people to this war is sad, it's bad, and there's NOTHING good about it.. but if we did not have men/women willing to sacrifice their lives for everything that we - as the USA - stand for then we'd have been taken over by who knows which country by now. I do not defend anyone in particular in saying this; but I do not feel as though it's anyone's fault but the Taliban. They rammed OUR airplanes into the twin towers, they have killed hundreds of our soldiers since this war began, and THEY are the reason we continue to loose wonderful soldiers and people every single day. People, like the Navy Seal Team 6, are people that are PROUD to fight for our country and would've much more preferred to have "gone down" while doing what they love and fighting for this country than had they fallen "gone down" in their sleep!! My heart will forever go out to ALL the families that have lost a member, all the friends that have lost someone, and ALLLL the men and women who have paid the ULTIMATE sacrifice in this time of war; but don't think they won't go down in history and don't think that each and every one of them won't be remembered decades from now for being some of the most courageous, honorable, and loyal soldiers and citizens a person could be.

So, instead of taking this time to "blame" someone why don't we all just stop and appreciate their service, mourn for their loss, and REMEMBER THEM because that's the biggest honor we can give people of that caliber whom are fighting for our freedom!

Thank you to those that fight and those that have paid the ultimate sacrifice! No one can say the right words to make it right but I hope they know their losses will NOT go down in vaine! May they ALL RIP♥