Another Day in Winter!!! BRRRRRRR

These two images show Spring and Winter. There are good points to both seasons, so might as well appreciate Winter now that it is here.

Yesterday and the day before were traveling days, today will be spent at the homefront. I have LOTS to do from and for the homefront. During the traveling - I did some investigating about how to proceed to look for land and a place of my own. It could be quite some time before I can get my own place, judging from the advise that I got from the lady at the bank. . . but then again. . .I never seem to get anywhere coming through the front door, so why should this be any different? An opportunity will come up, and the best I can do is to just keep improving my financial situation and get ready for when that situation arises.

At the house, today I plan to get my printer functional, get the exercise bike functional, and get the kitchen cleaned up after my visit from Ken where I was doing a bunch of cooking. A little laundry along the way wouldn't hurt. . .and then I can get down to some of my jobs again. The Big Cedar sketches for a presentation on Monday, and get back to the big repair window.

So, hope you all out there have a productive day!

December 12th, about the Thirteenth.

I just watched the movie "Thirteen Days" about the Cuban Missile Crisis with the Kennedy's in the White House. Whew.

A statement was made concerning things to come. . . it's the classic argument about how to ward off FEAR. Fear as an explaination, is not being SURE that you can handle what you are facing. And what you are facing is always the unknown. . . It was said, you make the best decisions at the time - and then you slug out the consequences as they come at you. You make the best calls that you can, and everyone will second guess you. That you will have to take your beatings as you go along. Man, did the Kennedys EVER do THAT during this crisis for the country. But it certainly brings to mind what we all go though every day, some days more tense than others for a variety of reasons. So many men are poised to "kick butt" before truly considering all the consequenses that such an action - may or will provoke in the "kickee."

To just follow "protocal" or "rules of engagement" which are usually or wholly based on past judgement is simply not sufficient for the circumstances that come up for each of us, each day. If FEAR is a belief that a person won't be able to handle what comes at you, that it grows out of your unsureness to handle consequenses. . . what we really do as each day unfolds is we react to what happens to us, and/or we initiate actions to move our own evolution along as we are in this learning school.

In the movie, Kennedy says, "There is something Immoral about abandoning your own judgement."

There just is no real reason to FEAR what is coming - as all you can really do is "handle it when it gets here." LOLOLOLOL Sounds so EASY, eh? I used to wait tables in a busy restaurant, and before the horde would "hit us" I was always tense and fearful. . .but once the tables came in, once the people started ordering, things took place like clockwork and I just did my job. Sometimes it went well, sometimes it did not. I guess the best we can do is to just distract ourselves from "worrying" before things that we fear arrive. Those things that complicate or educate us as we live our lives.

I noticed that in the aftermath of the Cuban crisis - there was RELIEF - but there was also a kind of hollow feeling that was not celebratory but more of a quiet thankfulness and respect for all of the parties who were involved, and for how the situation was resolved. Peace was preserved, but it came so very close to not being the outcome, that there was just a powerful respect - that at least for the time being - Good Men Prevailed in the face of real Evil. A very good movie.

It indeed is a NEW DAY!!!!

I promised a picture of the New O'Neil Mobile. . .and here it is. Lots of stuff has happened since I last wrote. . .I made yet ANOTHER PRESENTATION to the folks at Big Cedar about building more windows for them. . . and that is still pending upon more drawings and a submitted invoice yet to come. . . but the job IS in progress.

Well well well, I looked up and who did I see? But an old intern of mine - who came by to buy a full load of glass supplies because he enjoy so much our time together as teacher and student when I had my store, that now he is ready to buy his own supplies and set up his own glass shop to do work for his relatives and whomever else comes along. It was GREAT to see Jim again! And the money doesn't hurt either.

Slowly the Universe is helping me put my life back together and get back to work in my chosen profession. And for once, it is treating me VERY KIND. Maybe because I've managed (not without pain) to get rid of all kinds of aspects of my life that were NOT working so I can actually concentrate now, on things that ARE working FOR me and my ART. I am very pleased.

Early Morning "Creep. . ."

It's very early in the a.m. & I find myself up & totally awake! The past 2 days have been adventure filled & last night I just couldn't stay awake! Not to belabor the point, but the past couple of days were spent looking for a new vehicle for O'NEIL STUDIOS to get around in. With some invaluable help from my friend we went driving around looking at what was available out there for sale. The old van needed a lot of expensive stuff to keep it going - like a new transmission, a new wheel bearing in the front, I had one more day on my car license which would have meant another inspection. That van would NOT have passed a safety inspection, in fact, my friend who went driving around with me said that if I hadn't been able to trade out for the newer van, then we might not have gotten HOME! LOLOLOL

So with the help of my friends, my mom, & the Universe. . .I was able to make the deal.

A Mormon family with 8 kids had been the previous one owner of the new light blue van (metalic paint color). It is gorgeous, only 45,000 miles (UNBELIEVEABLE!), a top of the line Chrysler - Town & Country, with a very nice wide back door opening which will allow me to load in and out easily. There are also two sliding doors, of course one on each side. . .that is such a huge help to loading and doing things in the vehicle! There are many little perks - like the key that locks & unlocks the doors and just lots of little things that are nice. In the summer, this will be the first vehicle that I have had in over 10/15 years that will have air conditioning. Living in the humid air of the Ozarks, this is just a necessity, & now I can join the ranks of people who just have this basic comfort. wow. Thank you so much ma, thank you Mormons, and the Universe for drawing me to this new ride!

I will post a picture as soon as the sun comes up!

Well the exercise bike is now at least in the house even tho it is still in the box! I have a meeting today with a big big client to hopefully get some more big work for my stained glass business. Getting the new van is a HUGE asset & a HUGE stress reliever for me. . .& all of that is just good for your health! I'm going to be doing some more house cleaning, dusting, sweeping, dishes, as I also focus on my presentation to be given around 4 pm down at Big Cedar Lodge later today. : )

I just LOVE it when I have energy & can get lots of stuff done! There are people in my life that think they know me, they will offer lots of advise, & cause me to want to defend myself & my actions a LOT. I have been defending myself a lot less these days. If those same people would follow me around, live in my 56 year old body with me and feel the aches & growing pains, while planning out the next day, the next month, the next 3 to 6 months. . . they would have a much different attitude about me, ha ha ha!!!!! I get lots & lots done every week, & I strive to keep a positive forward momentum attitude while I go forth. I listen to what other people say, to me & to themselves, (my good friends also play back to me some of the things that I say out loud) & it really is amazing all the negative talk that runs the lives and the world. When asked today if I had buyers remorse because of the van - I could answer unequivocally that NO I had no remorse, only JOY!

Well here's to being up early, with lots of energy, time for some good music & some house cleaning & to focus on my presentation! WHOOOHOOOO!!!!

My next move is to start the process of looking around in the country, finding myself a home!