Oakland Cemetery

Last night I got around to editing my website for the first time in about a year.  I had to rekindle my passion with her as she was in severe need of it.  I corrected a resolution problem with my header, threw up a few new graphics and re-did my gallery section.  I had what was called “hot spots” as a links over my pictures before which didn’t work with all browsers so I did it the easier way and just made the preview picture the actual link to the specific gallery rather than having hot spots.  

 I also added a new gallery titled “Oakland Cemetery.”  I walked around this gorgeous, historic cemetery in late August 09’ and attempted to capture the peaceful serenity that rests here.  I was actually supposed to be helping clean the grounds (part of this Hands on Project) but slept in late that day, missed it and decided to just wander and take photos instead.  There were HUGE mausoleums, Margaret Mitchell’s resting spot (among many other notable residents), hundreds of civil war graves, acres of rolling green grass, beautiful landscaping and amazing statues.  I was taken back by the elaborate headstones that sprinkled the grounds and also some of the messages inscribed onto them.  It was not a sad place but a place of thought.  The way the cemetery lit up and welcomed so many visitors that day with open arms gave me a joyful feeling.  I think after the passing of my Dad, I truly realized how much meaning those little spaces hold for people.

 One small hole holds years of old memories; laughter, tears, friends, family, vacations, children, parents, love.  Visiting this cemetery also made me think of my future and what my Great, Great, Great Granddaughter will be thinking as she possibly walks the same path I’m walking today.  What will she be like?  What will she believe in?

 Well, it would be cool if I was around long enough to see for myself!  Maybe I can be frozen and then dethawed in a couple of hundred years; like Walt Disney.  But if not, there’s something that lives in the depths of my soul that tells me everything will be alright – even after death.  

World of Thoughts

And yet another poem that was brought to life during our exciting weekly meeting…

A soul lost in a World of thought
It wonders aimlessly, sorrowfully distraught
A vagabond, it ignores the choice
Lost not mute – you see, it possesses the most powerful voice
It knows the path it’s destined to take
And just for now …
The World of thoughts, it cannot shake.

The Birth of 10

So it’s 2010. Woo hoo! It’s an even year which is usually lucky for me and my birthday will fall on 10/10/10. How cool is that? So, I’m super excited about this New Year. I now have my Real Estate license, a few friends are looking at buying in the near future and things are looking up for me. I’m hoping I can double my salary this year – or at least that’s my goal and continue my travels abroad late this summer / early fall. I’d really love to go to Italy next.

My resolution for 2010 is to better myself financially, learn all I can about Real Estate, make new friends and travel. If I can succeed in just one of those areas, I’ll be a happy girl. Saw Cavalia this weekend and it was not that great, I’ve seen horses do better tricks in my Grannies backyard! They were beautiful animals though. Cirque du Soleil is more my style.

WELL, I’m watching the radar and the snow is sloowwwly moving in. Crossing my fingers that work closes early and I may call in “sick” tomorrow. Nothing better than a snow trip to the mountains on a Friday. I’ll have to stop by sports authority and pick up one of those soft sleds – so much fun!!

See ya,
L.

Special Sand

How neat is it that you can take sand and turn it into a translucent panel that can be so inexpensive and used in countless ways?  In homes to view the grandeur that is nature, your vehicle to shield you from oncoming beetles and the occasional pebble that falls from the back of a dump truck.  And even something as simple as protecting a beloved photo in a tiny, green wooden frame that sits on your desk at work… it never steals the spotlight.  It lets the World shine through it.

Nothing Gold Can Stay

Inspiring poem by Robert Frost.

Nature’s first green is gold,
Her hardest hue to hold.
Her early leaf’s a flower;
But only so an hour.
Then leaf subsides to leaf.
So Eden sank to grief,
So dawn goes down to day.
Nothing gold can stay.

I might ride to the mountains this weekend and get pictures of the leaves before they drift away into a blissful, eternal, silence. I’m doing great in my class so far! Wish me luck. My final exam is coming up soon…

Pocahontas

Hola amigos!! Well I’ve made it through 6 real estate classes and Halloween successfully. I say that deserves a thumbs up. Halloween was GREAT! I was an Indian and had to dress up on 3 separate occasions, 2 parties and once at work.  But it was sooo much fun! And we looked fantastic.

We saw the Ghastly Dreadfuls again this Halloween and it was virtually the same as last year except they changed one scene at the very end. During one of the scenes, the actors started dancing and playing some kind of Mexican samba song and a guy puts his hand out to me to dance on stage with them! I shook my butt and danced with the troop (with the help of a little liquid courage) while J cracked up in the audience. It was hilarious and the best time!  I really love that show.

A few cell phone pics from the show… One of the band and another shot I thought was cool of this creepy rocking horse on stage during intermission.

I have some really good pics at home (I’m at work now), some involving me passed out drunk on an air mattress, another Indian, Santa, Demon Lady and a black lab.    Fun fun!  I MAY post one of those… we’ll see.

So we’re almost half way through our real estate course, Thanksgiving is coming up soon and everything’s going good. I’m a very lucky girl. Just hope the outsourcing Gods are kind to me and I can keep my job a lil’ longer… See ya later!

Need a Home?

Today I start my real estate classes and I’m really eager to see what it’s all about. It’s gonna be 3 days a week for the next 6 weeks and I’m sure it’s not gonna be easy while working a full time job, but I’ll survive. There are some people who forge through degrees in college while working full time so I just have to remember that I actually have it easy compared to some.

The real estate market isn’t that hot right now but it might be a great time for me to learn and there are a lot of first time home buyers with that new Obama incentive. I think more so than anything though, it will make me feel more secure knowing that I have another small notch to place on my knowledge belt.

There are so many fun things coming up in the next week or two, I love this time of year! Lots of changes and Halloween is just right around the corner + all the parties that come with it. I have my costume all picked out and ready to go. I’ll have to post some pics of it afterwards… for now, it’s a secret. Well I’m off to work. Wish me luck and see you soon.

Sweet Cascade

My poem for the fall…

Sweet Cascade

Fall lends us a fresh death
It rids us of all the summers’ weeds
They fall slowly to the ground

But as they die
Autumn shines brightly through eager eyes
And for a short time, nature reveals her weakness
Her strengths

 In a colorful eulogy, she glows
So many witness the last moments
As the beauty falls to the ground

 She’s gone
But not for long
Sure to live again!
Although she’ll never be as magnificent
As she was towards her end.

Fixodent & Depends

Dear Diary,

 Today I got my period and cried over little Jimmy holding hands with Amy.  :P

 Happy effing Birthday to me!  I’m now too old; 26 years to be exact, and am ready for the old folks home.  My birthday was last Saturday and it was a great one but for some reason, I did not like turning 26 at all.  It bothered me.  None of the others have too much…  I did have a fun day though.  Woke up late, was served breakfast in bed (Waffle House bacon, egg & cheese – my favorite!) played racquet ball, went shopping (got the cutest Guess dress), dinner and then out to the bars with my girl.  I haven’t done my “crazy” birthday activity yet, which I plan on doing hopefully in the next month or so.  Last year I promised myself I’d have to do one height related activity each year on my b-day to help me get over my fear.  I want to go hang gliding.  There’s a company at Lookout Mountain, GA that will take you up (I think around 2,000 feet) with a small single engine plane and let you glide down with an instructor.  It’s about $150 and as soon as I have it, I’m going!  

 I imagine that will be pretty terrifying but an amazing view.  AND the best part is that they take pictures up there, so I can share my experience with the world.  It’d be nice if I could take my own camera but I doubt that will happen.  

 Here’s my very best friend and I in Little 5 Points, Star Bar.  We partied like rockstars and my car wasn’t towed thank goodness.  All in all, I had a wonderful day.  Bye 25, I will miss you something terrible! 

p.s. If the Universe is finite, I will see you again.

Edmund Vance Cooke

While conversing with friends the other night, I learned of a poem called “How Did you Die?”  I’ve never heard of the author Edmund Vance Cooke but I really enjoyed this.  Here it is…

Did you tackle that trouble that came your way

With a resolute heart and cheerful?

Or hide your face from the light of day

With a craven soul and fearful?

Oh, a trouble’s a ton, or a trouble’s an ounce,

Or a trouble is what you make it.

And it isn’t the fact that you’re hurt that counts,

But only how did you take it?

 

You are beaten to earth? Well, well, what’s that?

Come up with a smiling face.

It’s nothing against you to fall down flat,

But to lie there — that’s disgrace.

The harder you’re thrown, why the higher you bounce;

Be proud of your blackened eye!

It isn’t the fact that you’re licked that counts;

It’s how did you fight and why?

 

And though you be done to death, what then?

If you battled the best you could;

If you played your part in the world of men,

Why, the Critic will call it good.

Death comes with a crawl, or comes with a pounce,

And whether he’s slow or spry,

It isn’t the fact that you’re dead that counts,

But only, how did you die?