10 Things I'm Thankful For (In No Particular Order)

A fantabulous friend of mine and fellow blogger, Renee, has been doing list after list all month of things she is thankful for.
So, today, in honor of Thanksgiving, I give you a list of 10 things I’m thankful for.

1) First and foremost, I am thankful for the my family, both biological and chosen.
My family has been an incredible support system, especially my Dad and my Aunt. I would not have gotten where I am today without them. They did anything and everything the possibly could to help me get here. My step-mom, brother and grandfather have also been a huge support this year. They have been so incredibly supportive and positive all the time. In the many conversations before my grandfather’s passing he made sure to let me know how intelligent, special and important he thinks I am. Though he gave me a tough task to take on, I know it is for my own good. I’m trying, Papa.
My step-mom is absolutely one the most positive, loving, kind encouraging people I know. My brother, throughout our lives together, has been the most unconditional, nonjudgemental, sweetheart. No matter what idiocy I got into, he always loved me through it and was always there to make me smile. His girlfriend, who has been an incredible addition to our family. His friends, who are always bringing laughs, smiles and witty banter into the mix. Viv and the Lungas for being the amazing sisterhood I need in my life. I would not be the same without you girls. You spice up my life. Also, my Georgia family that is always making me laugh until it hurts. I love that anytime Justin, Danielle and I get together we turn into crazy 8 year olds. Can't forget my weekly Glee gushing with Krista. The warmth with my biological family up here has only grown, for that I am thankful. Speaking of Twi-Gleeks, I can't forget Alli and the Shawvers. What an amazing women to be raising 3 amazing boys (4 if you include Blake, which we do...teehee)and making it look so effortless. We have so much fun everytime we get together, even if we are just sitting around doing nothing.
My best friends Erin and Aixa who have gotten me through anything and everything. We laugh together, we cry together, we scream together. I don't know what I would do without either of you. My mentors and dear friends Connie, Melba, Greg, Donna, Leanne, and Richard who are constantly encouraging me to confident in who I am and to strive to be better. The Langas for becoming a huge part of my chosen family. I definitely would not be where I am without them. They have kept my life happy, exciting, and full of joy and love.


2) What I do for a living.
I feel like I get paid to be a part of a family that I love being a part of, anyhow. The Langa family has brought so much to my life. For the first time in my life, I’m excited to get up in the morning. I look forward to everyday.
Richard, Melissa and everyone at Chrysalis Experiential Academy have encouraged me to go back to school. This place has given me back my love of teaching. I have been subbing at this school for a few months now and I have to admit, I love being there. The faculty and the students alike just absolutely make my day. There’s a lot of love there.

3) The wonderful people I am surrounded by.
In my day to day, there are so many wonderful people that I am blessed to be around and in communication with. My dad, my aunt, Petie, Karla, Melba, Leanne, Donna, the Langas, My C.E.A. family, Erin, Aixa, my IQ family, all of the people who make my life the joy that it is everyday.

4) Music
Most of you that know me, know the huge roll that music and musical theater has played in my life. I always loved dancing and singing. I dabble in piano, guitar, drums and violin and remain pretty mediocre in them all. Music is something that has always been in me. It was like shaking the cat food bag to find the cat. Dad, Tia, or Abuelo would pick up the guitar and start playing and I would show up in the room within seconds. Still to this day I find myself gravitating towards everything that has anything to do with music. It feeds my soul and takes me on wondrous journeys. Music is absolutely my drug of choice.

5) Inner Quest.
Inner Quest Metaphysical Church had taught me so much and brought me to much needed healing growth and a spiritual family. That place is always full of love and hugs. It’s a place where I have found wonderful people to journey with.

6) Personal growth.
I have been in certain situations throughout the year that have shown me the huge change that has happened within and the things that are continuing to change. I am more myself than I have ever been and I continue to grow closer and closer to who I am meant to be. It has been very exciting.

7) Lessons learned.
I can’t even begin to tell you everything I’ve learned this year, but I can tell you it is a lot. I’m constantly learning. The more I learn, the more I realize how much more there is to learn.

8) My new apartment.
I have to say, I am loving where I am living right now. It’s close to everything and my life has taken off since I moved here. A big THANK YOU to Dad and Tia for coming up here and getting me settled in. I don’t know how I would have done it without you.

9)The internet.
I love social networking, especially Facebook and Twitter. They keep me in contact with people I wouldn’t normally be able to keep in contact with. We all live busy lives and these sites help keep us all linked together and in the know. We can comfort people or celebrate with them, where we would not have been able to otherwise.
Then you have Youtube and Hulu for entertainment. Email, paperless billing, online billpay, email newsletters, blogs, vlogs, you can shop online, but tickets online, there is nothing you can’t so with ease. You can even buy a lock of Brad Pitt’s hair on eBay, The possibilities are endless.

10) My car.
I didn’t realize how much I really loved Boy Blue until I got rear ended and had to leave her at the body shop. I am currently in a rental car and can not wait to get her back.

Well, there is my ten things I’m thankful for in no particular order. I hope you enjoyed them and are encouraged with your own attitude of gratitude to create your own list of 10 things you are thankful for.

Happy Turkey Day! And in the words of the amazing Ellen Degenerous (which is someone else I am thankful for), “Be kind to one another.”

Let There Be Sexy

There has been a lot of controversy following this photoshoot. The question I want to pose is simply, why?

A parent group is deeming this "child porn"!?! WHAT!?!
"“It is disturbing that GQ, which is explicitly written for adult men, is sexualizing the actresses who play high school-aged characters on ‘Glee’ in this way. It borders on pedophilia. Sadly, this is just the latest example of the overt sexualization of young girls in entertainment."

First of all, Cory Monteith is 28, Lea Michele and Diana Agron are 24.

Secondly, IT'S GQ! It's not Tiger Beat. Everything they do involves sexy. For example:

If you want to see more just Google GQ Photoshoots. Ladies, there's stuff for you, too:

Here is a good article covering this issue.

The point I am making is, get over it. It's not a big deal. It does not deserve all if this controversy. Sexuality is a good thing. Especially in your mid to late twenties and beyond. These are not teenagers. I'm sure they work really hard to be that beautiful. There's nothing wrong with that photo shoot (with the exception of the photographer being kind of a wierdo. The pictures came out good).

LET THERE BE SEXY!!!!

The Anti-Bully Blog

With all the recent talk about bullying and these poor kids who were bullied to death, I feel the need to speak out.

I was a victim of bullying and as tough as it was at school, it was worse when I got home. My best friend who lived across the street was my only safe place for a long time. When he moved away, the hopelessness I felt was unbearable. I felt so useless and ugly and completely worthless. I didn’t do much because I never did it right. I scraped by in school and settled for less than mediocrity. I was convinced it was the best I could do. I loved performance and musical theater, so that I did. Not well, but I had a lot of heart, so if I didn’t make a group I wanted to be in I attempted to fight my way in. Sometimes successfully, sometimes not so successfully. It became the only thing in my life worth fighting for, which was why it was so heartbreaking to me if I didn’t make it. Not a day went by that I wasn’t reminded how fat I was, even at 140 lbs after a summer of Fen Fen.  When I wasn’t fat, I was stupid, didn’t dress well enough, needed to wear make up, was laughed at, called an idiot, made fun of for being different. It didn’t seem to end. I was even told I shouldn’t be on stage with all of the skinny girls, I was going to stick out like a sore thumb. Screw the fact that on stage was the only time I was ever kind of happy. Especially after losing my only safe place. I became suicidal, luckily, I was too naive and my attempts were sad ones. I was too chicken to go big, I guess. 

I am grateful now that I got through it because the bullies don’t even matter anymore. It took me a lot of time and a lot of healing, and I’m no where near finished, yet. I’ve accepted the fact that I am a capable person. I have gifts and talents, and even though it took years to discover, I am finding my purpose. 

I start back to school in January at the age of 31. It was so incredibly freeing to allow myself to be who I am, and not who anyone else “needs” or “wants” me to be. In that, I have found my dream job, a great place of my own, great friends, a great life of my own, an incredible spiritual path that came with an incredible spiritual family.

As I became more comfortable and secure in myself, my relationship with my father was transformed. What was a fear based relationship became an unconditionally loving relationship. Still having trouble with the other parent, though. I was kind of her bitch for many years, so she’s not liking the new, stronger me that’s no longer allowing her to hold me back and tell me all of the things I can’t do. That’s a whole other blog, though.

 I’ve had relationships end due to me becoming a stronger person, but there again, these were “friends” who much preferred the former doormat version of myself. I have lovingly released those people which made room for the more-amazing-than-I-could-have-ever-even-asked-for people I am currently surrounded by. 

Victims of bullying: I want you to know that YOU are NOT the one with the problem. There is nothing wrong with you. The person bullying you is doing so because there is something wrong with him/her that is getting projected onto you. Bully’s happen because of pressure that is put onto them and/or their own pain and insecurities. THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH YOU!!! See it for what it is. It’s not about you. Get help. Find help. There are people you may not even know that love you. There are even people that you do know and just have no idea how much they love you and care about you. There is always hope and love somewhere waiting for you.

Bullies: Think about what you are doing. What if one of the people you are bullying kills themselves. Then you will have to live with their blood on your hands for the rest of your life. That would make you a murderer. Get help before it’s too late. Choose LOVE. You never know what or who you could be missing out on. 

CHOOSE LOVE!!!