Standing On the Edge...

One Week to Go

Time is flying quickly now. Everything seemed so far off but now things are speeding forward. This time next week I'll be traveling to India; leaving LAX to Hethrow Airport in London, finding something to do for 8 hours, then on to India.
The house has been rented out and I need to finish clearing things out and cleaning it up. Some things still need to be picked up and other thing need to be donated or dumped.
One more day of work remains, only a half day then its just a matter of packing and cleaning.
I'm staying with Lourdes which has been a great help as I watch the world as I know it come apart, go into boxes, and a new, unknown world awaits me!

{Almost Time}

Well, I have less than a week before I head off to India.  If you would like to read about my adventures, you can follow my new blog here.

and Away I Go!

It took longer than I had anticipated but I have my employment visa in hand and am that much closer to being in India!
I was under the impression that I would be able to have my visa within three hours of dropping the  paperwork off. However, that was not to be. Once my paperwork was accepted, I was told to return the next day at 5:30 to pick up my visa.
Having a full day in San Francisco to kill, I took in a movie and hit up the mall and Apple store. At 5:30 I arrive to pick up my visa and was greeted by a long line of others attempting the same. I took my place in line and patiently waited and waited and waited. The room quickly became warmer and warmer and after an hour of not moving; I was finally next.
I hoped for the best but was worried, "what if I were missing something?" But alas, I signed my name as proof that I had my passport & visa in hand.  I left the building feeling relieved but it also hit me that I'm really doing this...I'm really heading to India, not for a week or two but for years...well, seven months until I return for a visit.
India!

Preparation for a New Adventure

Currently in the car driving up to San Francisco so I can apply for and hopefully get my employment visa for India. I can be on a plane in a matter of weeks, flying half way around the world to places unknowingly...
Such a crazy-amazing thought!

If all goes well I will be in India for the New Year and beginning 2011 with a new job in a new home in a new country with new friends. I will be working as an interpreter for a couple of Deaf business men, as teacher of ASL, and as a trainer for newly recruited interpreters.

I will be working in India for at least two years with the opportunity to come back to the states every six months for two weeks. I will return the first time in July, after seven months, since this is when Breona (my see-ster) will have her third child.

Am I ready?  Oh gosh, no!  So much to pack, to sell, to just get rid of. And what should I pack and what should I not worry about?  This is all coming...slowly, but it is happening! 

Time now for a car-ride nap...

{Sun Up to Sun Down}

Check out this beautiful sunrise I captured standing in my driveway before heading off to work.  This was my photo of the day for January 4th.  

When I got home that evening I took a picture of the sunset.  Usually the sunsets are more colorful and the sunrise not so much but not today!   

Yesterday's photo of the day was also taken early in the morning on my way to work.  There is this tree I pass when I take the back roads so this day I decided to pull over and capture it.  I posted them in my 365 photo group with the following quotes.

   

“Life without love is like a tree without blossoms or fruit.”

 

“All religions, arts and sciences are branches of the same tree.”

I also captured the moon overhead.

   

Now I want to go to the beach and put my toes in the sand, it is time to get grounded again.  Been feeling "off" and I'm not liking it.  Need to get back into a routine with my practice and my life!

 

{Lunch}

Today's lunch consisted of fresh organic tomatoes with fresh mozzarella and yummy pesto (also my photo of the day)

 

and some falafa with a bit of hummus

 

YUMMY!

 
 

{Ink}

Here it is!  Went yesterday and spent 2.5 hours face down getting inked.  I went in nervous about how much it would hurt but was pleasantly surprised.  I guess my yoga practice and breathing is paying off, LOL!  The outline was actually relaxing, almost like a deep tissue massage but with a scratching motion.  It wasn't until the end when I had enough.  The shading along my spine would really make me tense up and when all was said and done, I felt exhausted!

I am very pleased with the outcome.  I LOVE it!!

Lourdes came up and watched the tattoo come together as the colors were applied.  She then got her first tattoo done!  Hers is an adorable trio of sea turtles with symbols on their shells.  Hers is faith, Bella's is peace, and Jules' is love.  I adore her ink!  I am so glad we shared the first day of 2010 together!

Of course we finished the night with a couple of margaritas then went to the Edge lounge for a couple cosmopolitans!  Cheers!

I joined the Project 365 Photo a day 2010 group.  My first photo is the one above of my ink and today's photo is this one of Coda, my girl's night out kitty.

 

 

{2010}

A new decade!!!!

A new year!!!

A new month!!

A new day!

How are you going to spend it?

For the past 3 years I have chosen a word for the year.  I was originally inspired to this by Ali Edwards.  Words can be so powerful!  Previous words for me have been:

2007: Bliss (which I love and still use!)

2008: Achieve

2009: Calm (I think, wasn't very focused in 2009)

I encourage you to choose a word that will inspire you throughout 2010.  Perhaps, your word will choose you as mine did.  I had a few thoughts on words I wanted for 2010; Hope, Soul, Reinvent, Forward, Peace, etc. but none of them felt right.  

Then it hit me, "To Thine Own self Be True"! This quote has been with me for some time and I love it!  I know I have True friends and in return want to be a True friend. I hate phony and fake, I don't have the time nor the energy for something that isn't real.  So this year my word for 2010 is TRUE!  A year to discover what is True and most of all, in the words of Ziggy Marley, "Got to be TRUE to myself"!

2010 hails in my 40th birthday (little over a month from now).  I actually have looked forward to turning 40!  I can only get better, right!  LOL!  Ryan will turn 20 this year and my baby, Erik will be 18 this year. So although I will never be done with my role as MOM (nor do I want to be), my boys will no longer be children but real life adults with all the responsibility that can come with that.

Anyways, I rarely do resolutions in January, instead I tend to wait until February 8th.  This year I am working on my "40 @ 40" list.  40 things I want to work on or accomplish in my 40th year!  So far I only have 10 things on my list but it is growing!  A trip is on my list as is a new tattoo.  You will have to wait to see the entire list as it is a work in progress.  Actually, it may be a work in progress throughout 2010 but I will reveal what I have of it in February.

So today I will start by crossing one thing off my list and that is the new tattoo!  I have an appointment this afternoon to have a large (eek) piece done across my shoulders!  I am actually incorporating two tat ideas I had into one and am including my word for 2010!  Pictures to follow!  I must admit that I am excited but nervous as hell!  Although I already have one tat, I know I am in for some pain...and I HATE needles!!!

Happy PEACE-filled New Year to YOU!!

"Be TRUE to your work, your word, and your friend."  ~Henry David Thoreau

{Merry Christmas 2009}

Wishing you and yours a beautiful and blessed Christmas!!

 

  

{time}

...just thinking it may be about time to start blogging again, oh, and scrapping!  It's been a long time since I have done either.