Listen up my sister, things are WONDERFUL! It is 2012 and the greatest time in any generation to be alive! So let us celebrate and relish the fun times we have had and look forward to more fun times ahead! I will be your guide as we take this special journey together. I have so much to share with you and here is why, Readers Digest version: from one divorce, to multiple going nowhere relationships, to being the victim of a romantical/business fraud scheme costing over 100K to myself and my family, to three suicide attempts, to multiple addictions with alcohol and drugs with one ending in a hospital stay, to obsessive compulsive eating disorders with my body ending in one hospital stay, to loss of employment(myself and my spouse), to a short sale of our house in Detroit, to uprooting my family across the country to find work, to losing yet another job again, to uprooting my family yet again to another country for a job and here I am; clean and sober. Finally happy. But what it took to get here. My life was such a chaotic mess that I felt I was on a tv reality show and didn't even know it. I lost everything; my credit, my savings/retirement, my house, almost all my possessions, almost my health, a portion of my life's memories (thanks to a wonderful drug called Ultram), almost part of my family, and my dignity. My best friends were vicodin, ultram, and wine. I moved around so much that I felt I was participating in the FBI witness relocation program! So come with me as I show you my journies and struggles while I provide you some wonderful insight on how to obtain a fun filled life without feeling obliged to follow societal trends!
Little girl marching in the band, wonder where she is going? Which road does she take? Wonder where the road of life will take her?
DO NOT let anyone ever tell you NO! You can do it! God gave you a brain for a reason. USE IT!!!!!!
Yes! I tried modeling at a very young age! Suffice to say, that was not my intended career path. Too fat, not tall enough! God made us with different looks and abilities so that we can color the Earth and make everything exciting. Why would we all want to look alike? Wouldn't that be boring? So what if you are not 5'7 and weigh 110 lbs! You have great eyes and can sing like Pat Benatar!
Those were the days!!! Innocent and simple!
You have your whole life ahead of your girls! The world is your closet! Go out and try it on for size, see what fits and works! You only get one life to do this!
This my girls, is what helped me to pay for my escapades around the world! NURSING!!!!! I love Barbie as a nurse, don't you?
Girls please pick a degree that you will actually use and make money with!!! I chose nursing. There is a plethora of careers that are enjoyable and make that lovely green thing we love to call money! I once had a teacher tell me that as long as one knew how to do a little bookkeeping, typing, shorthand, and writing, one would always have a job! So true!!! So please don't be like my very good friend, Anita. Anita loved art soooo much. She like to talk about art, look at art, buy art, hell,she even wanted to sell art! So Anita obtained a degree in art so she could procure a job at a local museum hoping to be a curator! Flash forward three years later, Anita is answering the phones and scheduling appointments at True Chem Green Lawn! Funny, I didn't know that they have a museum too!
Here we are! My first escapade to Europe, London of all places. Here we are looking at a bird's eve view of the London bridge over the Thames River. What a magnificent structure! A tidbit of fact to use if you ever happen to be on Jeopardy, there has always been a bridge present at that site since the Roman Empire existed over 2000 years ago! As they always, All roads lead to Rome!!!
Herrods! What a wonderland for grown ups! When they said toys, I thought they meant barbies and doll houses. NO, They meant real life jeeps that run on gasoline at 40mph for the boys and real horses for the little girls! I asked one attendant how much for a horse and he replied, "How much do you have?
Here is the Queen's marching band! In perfect form guys! They are celebrating the changing of the guard! So much prep and practice goes into a simple ten minute performance! God save the Queen!
This is London's version of Times Square!
London is Manhattan's twin sister! Everyone should take a trip to Europe at least once in their lifetime! The experience is similiar to taking a trip to Venus or Mars from Earth! Commencing countdown, bags packed, let's go!!!!
Castle Urquhart on the shores of Loch Ness! I spy Nessie right in front! Hahahahah
Jack the Ripper! London's infamous son! This bloke gives Jeffrey Dahmer a run for his money or should I say pound? Savor the sites as most of the original architecture has been decimated thanks to the wonderful Blitzkrieg!True story girls, I actually had an entertaining conversation with some Englishmen while traveling on the tube(English version subway) They discovered I was an Amercian and proceeded to quiz me on American geography! After the ninth question regarding rivers in America, I asked them how many victims Jack the Ripper emaciated and who was his first victim? They abruptly shut up!
Here is Buckingham Palace! Everyone is waiting for the "changing of the guards" Such a brisk yet fun day! Watch out for the pigeons as they fly around the gargantuous water fountain!
Here are the lovely Queen Elizabeth's horse stables! They were in rare form that day! Of course this picture was taken before 911 so I was able to get closer than it is possible today. Check out the uniforms! I love the Tudor history, don't you? I am so sad that the Tudor series on HBO had to end! Long live the Queen!
Here we have Westminister Abbey. Princess Diana was married here of course but do you know the massive history behind this gorgeous church? Not only is it a glorious church, it is a literal walking mausoleum! You are literally walking on the grave sites of famous people such as Winston Churchill and Edgar Alan Poe! Be very careful where you step! You don't want to insult the dead!
Of course there is no better friend in the world than your own MOM! Treasure your mother my sisters as her advice will never fail to guide you in making the right decisions and ultimately discovering the woman God meant for you to become!!!
Look at life like it is a glass of champagne! Bubbly,sparkles,delicious, and ALWAYS half full! Taste it! Enjoy it! Celebrate it!
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Here we have the Queens quarters located at the palatial Tower of London! Some say that if you look real close you might see a glimpse of Anne Boleyn walking around on a dark moonlit night! Interesting tidbit of factual information if you ever are on Jeopardy! Anne Boleyn was King Henry VIII's second wife although their marriage was not recognized by the Catholic church which was the major religious authority during the 16th century and especially in England. This refusal to recognize Anne caused Henry to break away from the papal authority and declare himself the offical head of the Church of England thereby setting a chain of events that drastically changed the politics and landscape of England that can still be evidenced today although not to the harsh extremes as witnessed back in his time! Quickly, can anyone name how many wives Henry enjoyed and which ones "lost their heads" figuratively because of his lust and power?
Here is a picture of me getting ready to enjoy one of my favorite hobbies,flying a plane! This little marvelous bundle of sheer delight is a Sesna 150. Flying a plane is the most wonderful experience in the world or universe for that matter, sans going into outer space! Up high in the sky, you are away from civilization and have the ultimate control of the skies! Interesting tidbit of knowledge: when navigating a plane on the ground, you steer with your feet just like a vehicle but navigate with a wheel while up in the air. Trust me, it is very hard to navigate this puppy with pedals! So my girlfriends, get a good education and you will be able to do this fun activity too!
Friends are like the family you always wanted!
A true friend will not only come to your aide, but more than likely they will be right there beside you needing it as well saying,"Damn, how did we get here?!