Writing
THIS MONTH
August 2007
It's been a time of big changes this year. My good friend Bonnie married her love Richard and moved to New York this summer and My cousin Mike got Married this August on the 11th to Mandy.
For me, being married is a wonderful experience and has brought Paul and I closer together. We're still working like crazy and our goals are becoming a reality. This summer we bought a house in Missouri which will be our landing spot for when we move in about a year. We want to have at least 100 acres but this place with it's three acres will be a good place to start and get to know the areas better before we make our final decision. We both love the little cabin we found. It's built out of solid oak timbers and is a cozy little two bedroom. The person who built it and his children live on the adjacent property. There are only three houses on our little road. We have lots of Amish in the community and I love seeing them riding their horses and with their families in the buggies going down the road. We're looking forward to spending more time at our new place this year. For now it's just a getaway place but we already have in furnished and livable.
I've been gardening a lot this year. Lots of weeding and tilling the soil. I'm growing corn, tomatoes, bell peppers, lettuce, herbs and squash. The squash and a little strawberry plant were planted a little late so we'll see how that goes. It's just fun to get outside and get some exercise during the week.
I've started my first quilting project. It's a little Amish Apple quilt wall hanging. My neighbor, Bettina has helped me learn the techniques for piecing and applique. I just love it. It's very time consuming though. I would have thought quilting was easier than making clothing but it's really not.
I hope to keep enjoying good times with friends and family this year. I keep making it a point to stop working and spend time with those people who mean the most to me and it's such a blessing when we can get together. Even though the times are still somewhat rare they are such treasures to me.
Blog
November 2006
This past year has been great and very busy. We finished off 2006 with a quick trip to Oregon to pick up a race car Paul bought. I spent months working at a local ranch and learning gentle training techniques in working with horses. I had many brisk mornings up at 5 am to go clean stalls and the paddock. I met new friends there, one who was an old friend from Topanga. Paul and I got a ton of work done in the front yard, moved rocks, built a deck, cleaned up the rose bed, planted a plum tree and added drip lines to the planters and front porch.
Our vacations consisted of going to Oahu for three weeks in January/Feburary as a business trip for Paul, consulting for Billabong.
We drove across the country and visited friends and family all along the way, through 15 states or so. We visited Bill Talley, Paul's birth mother and family (also went to his cousins wedding), saw our friends April & Ron, an old school friend of Paul's named Bill in S.Carolina, Bill & Victoria, and had lunch with Belinda and Steve in AZ on our way home. We have one more vacation before the year is out. This time to Maui on another Billabong venture.
Two people very close to me had their men leave them. One of my best friends I've known since elementary school, Lisi, got married and had a baby girl. I struggled and finally came to terms with the fact that I'm not going to change my Mom. She's working on that herself and with her husband.
I continued my knitting but started a new hobby after 'inheriting' Paul's mom's Singer Featherweight sewing machine. I sewed a pair of pants, curtains for upstairs, and a couple of other little projects while learning to use the machine and all of it's parts. I continue to enjoy reading tarot cards sporadically, they help we focus in on my goals and direction, and are just sort of a fun distraction. I listen to Dr. Laura on my iPod several times a week and though I don't agree with everything she says, I feel that she has a lot of good un-common sense. I've started a genealogy program and have been working on mapping out my family tree including photos and have worked it out for the most part, all the way back to my Grandmothers Grandparents. I've been reading about Amish culture, horse training, sewing, and cooking. I've made about a dozen pies this year, all from fruit and berries growing on our property. I bought a slow cooker and have been using it to make stews.
We had friends and family visiting including my Uncle Bob from New York, Barbara & Don, My Aunt and cousins. I met my Great Aunt Geri finally. I had seen her only once when I was about 7.
I've gotten back in touch with my very best friends from elementry school. We found eachother on myspace and keep in touch almost daily. The twins came up for a visit. I haven't yet gotten together with the other one but she lives in Bakersfield only about 45 minutes away.
August 2006
I'm realizing that growing a business is not always simple but, in some ways it's easier than I think it will be. My business has been constantly growing since I started about 7 years ago and now I'm to the point where I have enough to keep not only myself busy but have plenty of work for another programmer as well (Thankfully I finally found someone who is very reliable and good at this). I'm not quite to the point yet though where I can afford to hire someone full time, but maybe some day I'll get there. I'm just going to see how it pans out. During this transition period I'm taking on more work, assigning work to my helpers and trying to come up with money to pay those helpers while waiting for clients to pay me. I'm not sure if this is the right order to do things but I'm noticing that it can definitely cost a lot up front to take on a lot of big projects this way. I think it will all level out at some point as I settle into the routine
Our visit to Missouri this year once again assured us that it's the place we want to be. We're still window shopping (www.morealestate.net) for now but within the next couple of years we'll be shopping for real. Our dream is to buy at least 100 acres outside of Springfield in the South Western area of MO. We did some driving through the areas this trip and found the counties we want to look in. Basically rolling hills with fields of grass, ponds, streams, and about an hour and a half drive from the major city of Springfield.
May 2006
I'm a bit behind in my writings and my blog here. It's almost the end of May now and it's been a whirlwind of activity around here keeping up with the business, the house projects, family visitors, the yard and everything else. It's a great but busy start to the warm season. I'm looking forward to summertime and as always, trying to slow down a bit to enjoy more of the simple things in life.
March 2006
It's only the 3rd and I've already got my taxes in. I think that's the earliest ever for me. I'm plugging away at projects and hoping to finish some this month that have been dragging on forever. We've had some wonderful weather. Rain, snow, slush and sunshine. I drove in the snow the first time the week before last and it wasn't bad. Just went slowly. Front wheel drive helps. I've been going down to the ranch only once a week now because I've got sooooo much work to do (as always, broken record, I know). But I'm REALLY trying to get somewhere with this. It's been nice being back home, having time with friends and the neighbors up at the house here.
I'm finding time to cook more and visit with friends. I've got to get down to visit my Grandparents before they disown me... it's been too long. Time flies. Mom seems to be doing well. She's left a couple of messages but I never seem to be home when she calls.
I designed a business card for my cousin, Jimmy.
I'm obsessed with my iPod. I have an adapter for the car which me listen my music, I've loaded about 800 songs on there so far, TV shows, movies, radio shows and philosophy lectures. It's one of my favorite gadgets. Paul looks shocked when he sees me without it.
I'm avoiding work more often now by writing in my Blog.
My favorite bands of the moment are: Theivery Corporation, Bjork, Manu Chao, She Want's Revenge, Mercury Rev, Tricky, and my friend EVE who just send me his latest music video. I will post it soon!
February 2006
Paul and I just got back from Oahu. Our trip was extended to thirteen days. It was incredible there. So beautiful and relaxing. Unfortunately Paul did have to work some of the time, but the rest of the time we went for drives and hung out with the web cast crew, a great bunch of people. We're already talking about going back some time for vacation there. We really loved it.
Now it's time to get serious again. Back to work and responsibility. It sort of sucks but at least I have some great memories that will keep a smile on my face for a while. I'll be working on putting up more photos this month, here's what I have so far: Trip to Hawaii
January 2006
I feel somewhat guilty for not writing more often and keeping you all (all three or four of you who actually read this! ;)) up to date, but I have been gathering my thoughts and working on myself spiritually, emotionally, and physically (Yes I'm using my exercise machine too!). I've been reading a lot about horses and spending as much time as possible helping out at the ranch. I've uploaded some photos of the horses. They are really special and each have a completely unique personalities.
As usual I'm keeping up with work and just launched some new projects (most of these links will open in a new window):
- A business directory site for Isla Vista, CA
- Paradise in Ojai & San Miguel Jim - two simple real estate/vacation rental sites for the same guy.
- Updated my friend's websites including:
Adding an admin so Michelle can update her own at Sun Garden Productions
A new home page for Eve at Arrowspace11 (He's doing great stuff with his art and music)
Did I mention Lisi's site? Thicker Than Water displaying her great jewelery. When she's ready we'll add more photos. - I'm still working on finishing ongoing projects for Rock & Gem magazine, Robin Constable Hanson, Global West Suspension, Arthur Martinez & Associates, and more, which should bee finished this month.
December 2005
This month I have been evaluating my life and creating goals. I'm still trying to send more work to my great helpers, but it's difficult to do on some types of projects. I'm still working on several large websites at once, trying to keep all of my clients satisfied.
I want more time to spend on keeping the house in order, cooking, spending time with Paul, and enjoying the horses down at the Lifson's. I'm so grateful for the experience I'm gaining working there a couple of times each week. Just being around the horses is great therapy. I feel more alive after coming back from there. I just can't work so many hours in front of the computer without a break anymore.
We took a quick trip to Oregon to pick up a stock car for Paul. We ran into some gnarly weather and luckily made through safely.
We had our friends/neighbors over for Christmas eve dinner and on Christmas Day my family and friends (Aunt & Uncle Jeff & Una, cousins Mike & Jimmy and their Girlfriends, Mandy & Alix, and the neighbors all came over and we had leftovers, crab legs, and a good time visiting.
November 2005
It's been a long time since I've written. I've been focusing my energies away from the computer lately and feel like I'm starting a new chapter in my life now. For the past couple of weeks I've been helping out with caring for horses for a family up here who rescues them. It has been part of my dream to try my hand at raising and training my own horses when Paul and I move, and this experience is teaching me a lot.
I know that this is something I want to do. I feel like I've been sitting and doing nothing for too long. Getting out with horses is so invigorating and rewarding. The family I'm working for has nine horses and uses Natural Horsemanship techniques, which is exactly what I've been looking for. I was ready to start taking Monty Roberts courses up in Solvang when Paul found that ad that they were looking for part time help at their ranch. I'm hoping to soak up as much experience as possible here and feel confident that I will be doing it with my own horses some day.
Sept 2005
It's been an exhausting and stressful time. I hate to sound so negative. There has been so much going on in my own life and in the world the last month I feel almost completely drained of all energy. In the last 30 days we've done a LOT of yard work. I'm getting pretty sick of it. I don't mind the regular maintenance stuff but the major dirt moving and tree removal stuff in preparation for Paul's garage is really getting on my nerves. I just don't want to deal with it at all. I would love to just wake up one day and there it is... all done. Well eventually that will be the case I guess, but it just seems to be taking forever.
My grandma, Linda has not been doing well and is having a lot of health problems. She's on my mind a lot.
Our friends next door had their own drama. Bela had to have an emergency operation to have his appendix out, then after 5 days at home and not getting any better, we rushed him down to the emergency again. He had to have a abscess removed and now is doing MUCH better, thank goodness.
Watching the drama of Hurricane Katrina has been unbelievable. The violence, shootings, and rapes that followed I think are more horrifying than the disaster itself. It really is sad that people could act in such a way. I also feel horrible for all of the poor people that have lost their homes, land, and lives.
- My good friend April Jackson has setup this site to help Hurricane Katrina victims.
9/8/05 - I created a PHP script to automatically format the list for the Katrina Families in Need. The script automatically formats a csv file which is edited and uploaded by April. - Launched Michelle Gardner's site www.SunGardenProductions.com
- Reading: "Blink" (still), Sam's PHP/MySQL/Apache (my brain is growing), Complete Book of Tarot
- somewhat Daily Blog
August 2005
We'll we're finally DONE with the house. Yeah there are a few little things here and there that need to be done still but that's probably always going to be case. Carpets are in, blinds are in, floors, kitchen... it feels like a new house. I've got all of my office furniture from Camarillo now. It's nice to have everything in one place. Things really feel good now and I can start to focus more on other things I need and want to do.
- Reading: "Blink"
July 2005
Summer is really here! We're so blessed up here with beautiful, warm, mild weather. We're above the coastal fog and it's cooler here than it is in the valleys. Occasionally we get clouds flowing down off of the mountain tops into Cuddy Valley, still with blue skies and the sun shining. I've planted one of the large square planters out back with tomatoes, watermelon, pumpkins and herbs.
Sometimes I feel like there's so much to do it's overwhelming. Then I look back on what I have already accomplished and know that it will all get done. I can relax. These things that build up on my mental to-do list, threatening to topple my serenity, are no more than a single small task in one moment of time, all of these little things add up to the real accomplishments.
I must say, I'm pretty good at getting things done and have done a lot this year so far. Work can be a blessing. The challenges have helped break up the monotony, made me learn new things, and kept me on track. Without something to keep my mind busy I get depressed. I haven't really been depressed since I've started keeping so busy. I'm also really enjoying the time I'm making for myself to take more walks, exercise, garden, read and write. All of these things are what keep my going.
June 2005
Our Summer 2005 Road Trip to Missouri
We stayed in Flagstaff on the first night and went out to a bar that had home brewed beer and a really talented band. I think the place was called the Flagstaff Brewery. We talked to a few people including an Native American guy outside of the bar while we were waiting for our cab back. He was telling us his story of trying to kick heroine. Paul and I talked to him for at least 20 minutes. Paul gave him some money to buy some food (hopefully, although Barbara, with all of her experience with AA, later told us that he probably wouldn't). I kind of wished that we could have taken him to Barbara's place to get well, but I guess we can't save everyone. Who knows maybe there's another plan for him anyway.
We met more of Paul's family in Lubbock, TX. His Grandmother's birthday is on the same day as Paul's and we all went out to eat to celebrate then went back to her nursing home to sit outside in the nice weather and talk. I really enjoyed meeting his cousins, talking to Melanie more, and meeting his grandmother who is in a wheelchair and doesn't say much, but has a nice smile and you can tell is a clever person. I also enjoyed visiting with Don and Barbara. Although it was a very short visit I feel like I know them all a little more now.
We drove up to Abilene and had dinner at Olive Garden with Paul's Dad Bill and Victoria. Then got to see their new house just outside of town on five acres. Bill's been overseeing all of the work and has done a great job. The place is absolutely beautiful! We stayed there three nights. Victoria and I went shopping at Walmart and made tacos for dinner on the second night. Bill wasn't feeling so well so we took it easy and didn't go to Brownwood or see Donny and Wylene. As always it's so comfortable staying with Bill and Victoria we didn't want to leave. On our way out we all went to lunch to a great Asian buffet. They had everything from sushi and orange chicken to cornbread and chicken fried steak. The food is so good in Texas and the people are the most friendly I think.
We drove up into Arkansas and stayed the night in a motel near Hot Springs. We had a late dinner at the Waffle House, which is a place sort of like Denny's but smaller and with fewer choices. Their waffles are REALLY good. The next morning we woke up and drove through the Ozarks in Arkansas and saw many beautiful scenes. I had no idea there were so many hills in there. It turns out that they are all formed by erosion and all of the hill tops are at the same height because of that. For the most part we were driving on ridges. Paul kept humming the 'Deliverance' tune so I had to tell him to stop, because it really wasn't like that, until that is, we stopped at an old gift/hardware shop where I met a not overly friendly, overall clad, cross eyed guy who was running the store. OK that's not nice, I know... but it was very cliché. We took a short hike in the woods, but didn't make it all the way to the waterfalls or the big rock. The forest is all the same shade of green. Broad leaf trees and pines tower above and poison ivy and other leafy greens line the floor. There were so many places we would have liked to stop in Arkansas, crystal caves, beautiful hikes and vistas. We'll have to go back and spend a week there.
We arrived at April and Ron's in the late afternoon. Ron bar-b-qued hamburgers for us and we all sat out on the porch talking and enjoying the warm weather. We saw fireflies too! The next day we went to one of the biggest sporting malls in the country and had lunch, another buffet. I had to remind myself not to eat too much, the food was so good. They then took through Seymour where the strictest sect of Amish live. On the way back we stopped at a beautiful lake. We had such a great time with April and Ron. I met April when she was working at Florabundance and I started doing some web work for the company. April already new Paul from when he worked at Netpipeline. They came close to buying a place up here in Pinon Pines last year before they decided to move to Missouri instead. We all got along very well and found we have a lot in common.
Paul and I decided that we want to move to Missouri now... well in the next four years. It is so beautiful there and land is very inexpensive. It's definitely our first choice now. It's taken Idaho's place as our favorite state. Although Idaho is probably has more beautiful and diverse landscapes, Missouri is a more realistic place to live and grow old in. There are a lot of jobs there and the weather is fairly mild. Paul and I went to the bookstore and I got some books on Amish people and Paul got some real estate magazines.
On our trip back we drive through Kansas and stayed the night in Trinidad, Colorado. Then drove straight through New Mexico, AZ and back home.
May 2005
Yah! It's getting close. We're almost on our way half way across the US! I finally finished my customer admin (well mostly) and built in a mailing list system to send out my vacation notice. After sending that out it really feels real now. I can already smell the road! Brian will be coming back out in a few days and staying at our house while we're gone. Bela and Bettina have some work for him to do at their house, including redoing their kitchen, rearranging walls, and building some bookshelves
I'm going to bring my GPS Map thing that tells you where everything is and although Paul's going to hate it, look for knitting stores along the way. I'm working on knitting two hats now. I'm a bit intimidated by it because my first hat turned out to be too small which is why I redid it about 3 times then gave up and made a headband for michelle. I figure this time that if it comes out too small I can find someone with a small head to give it to, like the fingerless gloves I gave to Leda (not because she has a small head, but because she has small hands).
The Plan: Spring Roadtrip 2005
Recent Design Projects: Canyon View Ranch
){kind=link}
){kind=link}
|
April 2005 |
|
March 2005
Another month has flown by. It's the beginning of March now. I wish I had time to listen to music and make artistic flash movies. That's still beyond my reach until I can catch up with some of this work that I've piled on myself. I don't know why I take on so much. I get a lot done and the accomplishments are rewarding but enough is enough. I need a break. Hopefully by the end of this month we will be done with the home improvements and life will get back to normal. I'm already looking forward to a trip this spring with Paul. We haven't decided where or when exactly but I know we both need a break so we'll just have to make it happen.
I've started a daily blog which I won't guarantee will be daily but, at any rate it's there.
Music Samples
Artist:Willis
Song:Word Up * I love this one! For some reason it reminds me of Brown Sugar by the Stranglers, although it's really nothing like it. It just has a similar relaxing rhythm that doesn't really have a beginning or an end
Album: Rewind 4
Artist:Lemon Jelly
Song:'95 AKA Make Things Right *I heard this song on SIRIUS Chill(64). I have two other albums by Lemon Jelly but I don't listen to them very often. They are a little too wierd in large doses. (And this comes from someone who likes Bjork!)
Album: '64-'95
Artist:Nitin Sawhney
Song:Sunset * Electronica with some Indian vocals. I don't know anything about this band but would like to see if all of their stuff is as good as this song. Couldn't find a good sample of this one online.
Artist:Handsome Boy Modeling School
Song:Class System *This is one of those songs I'll like for a little while and then it will probably get on my nerves... sort of like Gwen Stefani...or gum after it's been chewed too long.
Album: White People
Artist:Thievery Corporation
Song:Warning Shots (or anything by this band, one of my current staples. Their music spans many styles.)
Links
Guy Lip Syncing Dragostea Din Tei
More Stupid Videos
February 2005
It seems like it's been snowing for months. The situation is not so bad up here. We did loose a few trees to snow in the back yard. They just got too heavy and snapped. It's not really noticeable that any are down due to the fact that they are so close together and that Stan's yard next door also has a lot of trees. There have been a lot of mud slides and road damage elsewhere, I'd much rather deal with the snow. We finally got our new heater in after about two months with just the wood burning stove. It's still nice to have a fire now and then but the instant heat factor is sure a blessing, especially since Paul and I are getting over colds and it's not really that fun to go out into the snow and gather wood after stumbling out of bed.
Paul's brother Brian is visiting us and has been helping us do some work on the house including redoing the kitchen island, to include a bar, the counter tops, sink, stove, floors in the rest of house etc. It will be nice to have it all done.
An old friend from Topanga died last month. Vera Wood was an incredibly creative, fairy godmother-like woman who owned property on Old Topanga Canyon Rd. Billy Brandenburg used to live in one of the cottages on her property and Gabe Perez's family almost moved into one years after that. I went to visit her a few times over the years. Piebald peacocks (peacocks with large white patches, which I've never seen anywhere else) roamed around her property and her paintings of unicorns, mermaids and fairies could be found on the buildings scattered throughout the oak trees. I really regret not visiting her again. I had though about it several times over the past year but kept too busy.
Latest Web Projects: My neighbor Bela's new business venture: GolfLogs.com, yet another farmers agent site: Sandlin Insurance, I didn't design the site but I setup a database to search their drawing files and to automatically notify them when a drawing file is requested which they don't have available. I'm still not quite sure what these things are for: BlacohDrawings.com
January 2005
Well it's a new year now and time to annalize my life. I'm happy where I am but sort of sick of work. I think a vacation would help. If I were to make any new year's resolutions besides my usual one of Don't make any New Year's Resolutions they would be: 1.Make more money and work less. Which goes along with number two 2.Believe that anything is possible. 3.Make time to do things other than work. I've actually taken up knitting and become completely obsessed with it. I'm working on making a pair of socks and have two scarfs in progress.
So far we've had a really wintery month. We've had over 4 feet of snow so I've gotten lots of practice in the techniques of snow shoveling. I actually enjoy shoveling snow, it's invigorating. Our heater is broken (we're going to have a new one put in soon) and we've been keeping the house warm with the wood burning stove 24 hours a day. It works really well and is very cozy.
November 2004
Mom and Glen got married in Las Vegas on the 9th. The wedding was short and sweet. Las Vegas was fun, a nice break from work. I stayed in Las Vegas for 4 days. We saw the Blue Man Show (interesting) and I knitted more than I gambled.
I Finished my first scarf and have become obsessed with knitting since Bettina showed me how. I'm building up a small collection of yarn including some hand dyed wool from South America which I bought on eBay. I have 3 projects going right now, all scarfs. I'm looking forward to learning how to make other things like hats and mittens, maybe even a sweater.
Sites Completed: • Farmers Agent Site • Chinese Translations for Skin4You (still in progress)
October 2004
 |
©Far Side |
|
New sites by Melissa Vaughn: September 2004
June 2004 May 2004 April 2004 March 2004 Jan 2004 Dec 2003 Sept 2003 July 2003 June 2003
|