All professional and stuff

Well, in an attempt to develop a professional identity online (and to have places to refer others to that I might meet through school/work/etc), I've created a professional webpage/blog/resource/research gathering site and a professional facebook resume.

My facebook resume is viewable HERE.

My website/bloggish thing is viewable HERE.

Link to the Conference Pictures !!!!

You can either click the title of this post or click HERE to view pictures and thoughts as they occurred in real time throughout the Baton Rouge-New Orleans-LCA adventure...:) Good friends, food, fun, and good times :):):)

New Orleans ... LCA... and FUN!

I'll be posting a link later that will lead to pictures and other fun stuff. I just spent the last few days (Friday-Mon) traveling for the local Louisiana Counseling Association conference. It was my first conference and a ton of fun! Here's just a brief run down of everything. It's a lil boring summarized like this, but I promise the next posts will be more fun:):):) (OOOOOOhhhh...pretty pictures!!!) :)

FRI - I went in to Baton Rouge and stayed with my friend Brittany, who I was riding with for the conference. We went out for sushi and checked out the local Buddhist temple! That was AWESOME. The temple I normally go to is in Lafayette and is a Tibetan based temple whereas the one in Baton Rouge has a large Vietnamese-American population and also centers more on Zen style while the one in Lafayette is more sutra based. It was a lot of fun to see and experience the differences and I hope to go back on occassion.

SAT - Me and Brit picked up Summer and headed into New Orleans. We went on a cemetery tour (which I'll post pics from in the link) and later that night we went to Port of Call (best burgers EVER!) and Pat O'Brien's (Mmmmmmmmm... Hurricanes!). That night we went swimming on the roof top pool:)

SUN - We met up with some other counseling-buddies and went to Cafe du Monde for beignets and coffee. Sessions started at 2, I went to HYPNOSIS (muhahahaha...) and later on went to the opening session (loved the clip from the movie UP!).

Mon - I went to 3 sessions (internet, co-ocurring disorders, and crisis intervention). For lunch we went to Lil Dizzy's (which was yummmy and not expensive ...I HIGHLY recommend)! And, after the last session I met up with everyone in Pete's Pub (where a grad student reception was going on) and we left back for Baton Rouge & then I drove home....:)

True Blood Ep10 "I Smell A Rat"- Eric's Will

LOL! I love how he switches to english for gold-digging whore!!!

Sound Track: Fai´s Vampire heart

MILKSHAKE | justin law & giriko

Sound Track: Superman

Wing Chun and Time Constraints...

Looks like I'll be missing Wing Chun 2wks in a row:P :( I have an LCA meeting tomorrow in Lafayette that I need to go to that's taking the time slot:P I think I'll call Master Danny and try to schedule a private Tai Chi lesson to supplement.

---

After finishing my last big project for my Introspective and Personal Growth Counseling Course, I'm having trouble feeling motivated. I think I'm just mentally exhausted after turning out an 8pg pp in 3 days. However, I'll have to buckle down later today. I also need to take another walk/exercise run. I'm determined to tone up my tummy:P bleh!

I also am in the process of redoing my guestroom. That is becoming a major pain in my ass. Today I need to clear off the giant book case and try to move it around in the room. RAWR!!! ***flexes muscles!*** "I strong!"....or not...:P lol!

Dream a Dream

Let the Randomness Commence!!!!...

Chinese Proverb..repost from the Buddhist Blog

When the genius points at the moon, the idiot looks at the finger.

-Old Chinese proverb.


((Too great not to share!!!))

Rally For Economic Survival - Lafayette Louisiana

Today there was a rally in Lafayette Louisiana at the Cajundome. The very fact that a rally occurred speaks to the anger and frustration of Louisiana natives. Normally a lazy blue-collar state that has not protested to this extent in decades, today the people spoke. The final count according to their site put attendance at 11,000 in the Dome, 11,000 different viewers (IP Addresses) online, 3700 at one time on line in 40 different countries.

Is that clear enough for you Washington? If not there is also the petition that now has 171599 people and counting....BTW if you'd like to sign the petition you can find it here. Twice so far the moratorium has been struck down in a court of law. Once when first issued and again in appeals court. The response of our government? To put in place another moratorium under a different name. (Ummm...I think I heard something about the spirit of the law and letter of the law...guess who's not following the spirit of the law here?)

In response, the people of Louisiana rose up in an out cry of solidarity and contacted all major media outlets. The media's response? To post articles of Klingons (CNN) and stone age sex toys (FOX) on their main pages and ignore this historic moment. Sounds like freedom of the press only applies when it's not owned by big government.

The Rally also has a facebook page that can be viewed here. To view the rally, the full video is available here.

Please support the local economy and the will of the local people.

Thoughts on Happiness

Happiness is more than what one does or how much money or even popularity a person has...if happiness were tied to personal achievement, than no one would ever be happy except the super-stars. And, if the number of rock star suicides is any indication, even they aren't happy. When I went on mission trip to the Yucatan, I was struck by how happy the people were. They lived in a one room hut, there were maggots in the food, and the floors were dirt with no running water, and...they were happy. In essence the story of the Buddha is a story of seeking happiness. It is not tied to our physical state, or even our emotional state, but rather how we choose to perceive the world around us.

If I achieve all I set out to achieve, will that make me happy. The answer is no. If I make tons of money will that make me happy? No, although it will ease some of the worry about caring for family, etc. In meditation there are two main sutras practiced at the Tibetan Center regularly. One is the heart sutra and the other is one on compassion. While I enjoy the compassion mediation, I do not enjoy it nearly as much as the heart sutra. I think that is because I feel that the heart sutra is about compassion and happiness as much as the compassion one.

While I've gone to meditation for several weeks, I have not asked any questions yet. Don't get me wrong, I don't think I "know it all" or "understand it"...that would be beyond arrogant and approaching delusional. I just don't think my questions can be answered with words. If they could, everyone would know the answer.

Last day

It's my last day at work. I may look into doing something part time on the side. But for right now, this is going to help a lot with my stress lvl and school work. I'm going to be a little sad to go. I've worked here for 3 years. In many ways, it's been a second family to me.

I went to meditation last night. The monk told me there might be an opening at the local center for the blind. I'm going to get a resume together and check it out on mon or tues.

Tomorrow I'm suppose to go a hot tub party. Right now I'm wondering if all this rain might cause it to be cancelled. Poor guy. I know my neighbor had even hired a band to play for the party.



(frog at car lot, a parting pic at my current work)

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Worrying and trying out dictation app for iPhone

I'm really nervous about stopping working. I've never not worked even when I was in college I always worked. I'm worried about Brandon I'm worried about the stress of him being the sole breadwinner of the family.

I'm worried that we won't be able to handle everything with just one income not because we can't afford to, but because we are used to a certain standard of living and I know that we're going to have to make a lot of cutbacks and sacrifices in order for me to do what I'm about to do so that I can finish school year and a half sooner. I really love my hubby and I really don't want a kill him with stress and anxiety.

I'm also worried about my time management. It's really important to me that this decision be a good decision that it be good for myself and my family and that it provide me with more efficient time is not less efficient time use more motivation not less motivation. once I stop working and I'm just going to school I'll have a lot more time but I'm worried i won't be able to use it as efficiently.

By the way this blog post was blogged using the dragon dictation system on my iPhone. It allows me to speak my blogs and speak my words rather than trying to type on a very very tiny keyboard.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Making a go...

I'm going to try not wking for a while. It'll let me fin sch a yr sooner& lower the stress lvl. I'm also getting use to typing on my iPhone & trying out this new blogging app. So far I like it a lot. I can definitely see myself getting addicted to this! Lol! My last day of wk is next fri as of now. More to come when I get home to my nice big keyboard!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Soundtrack: Building a Mystery

Song: Building a Mystery by Sarah McLachlan
Anime: Vampire Hunter D

Made: Not by me LOL!

Tai Chi

I'm really enjoying my Tai Chi classes. I can only go once a month or so b/c I have to pay for them as a private lesson b/c there aren't enough ppl interested for the instructor to form a class. But, I've been practicing at home too. I'm trying to go through the forms/exercises at least three times a day. I like the fact that my instructor keeps the martial aspect of the art and explains where the movements can be strikes/throws/etc. At the same time, the slow pace and the soft rhythm of the movements is so calming (although the physical side sneaks up on you...you think you feel fine/that it's not hurting and then out of nowhere ... BAM!) I've been taking Tai Chi b/c I hurt my arm a couple of weeks ago. I found a lump on it, and the doctor said I strained it (or that it might be a lipoma). I have to take it easy for another week to see if it goes away. If it doesn't I'm suppose to go back to the doc. So, for another week I can't do high impact stuff like Wing Chun.

If I could, I'd focus all my weekly classes on Tai Chi. It originally started out in Buddhist tradition which is ironic considering I just recently started checking out Buddhist meditation.

Life, the Universe, and Everything...

"He had noticed that events were cowards: they didn't occur singly, but instead they would run in packs and leap out at him all at once.” ~ Neil Gaiman

Right now I have a very VERY needy tabby curled up on my lap that is trying to make blogging as difficult as possible. And it seems he only wants loving when I pick up my computer. Evil cat.

Sometimes it's good to take a mental check. A moment to gather one's thoughts and reassess momentum. I'm trying to finish graduate school. Much of what I want for myself, my husband, and my family hinges on completing it quickly. Yet, I also know that finishing school never makes things "easier." If anything it only adds more complication and responsibility. (And don't we all just want to be Peter Pan and never grow up?) Right now I'm trying to take pleasure in the small things and attempt to "slow down" as much as possible. Meditation is helping a lot with that as is Martial Arts. I haven't been able to work out as much as I would like the past few weeks. Between Amanda dying, school approaching finals, work stress, etc...I feel lucky to have had time to sleep and do the dishes. Then to top it all off, I hurt my arm, further frustrating my workout:P

I lost 5lbs though since I started! (yippy!) I have to keep going and get back into shape. (I think I can! I think I can!) :D

Brandon is stressing out more and more with the oil spill in the gulf. Louisiana's economy depends on oil. (Say a prayer for us and all families that work in the oil field in the South right now.)

Currently Reading: Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman (it's my favorite book and I'm re-reading it) and the manga Vampire Knight.

Ouchies...

I have a weird lump on my elbow that's a little bigger than a quarter but smaller than a golf ball. It's been there since last Tues. but I didn't want to freak anyone out before I could get to a doctor. I went Monday. He said there's a fatty patch on the elbow and that underneath it, it's likely irritated/inflamed and that's causing it to "lump out" all gross like. At least it doesn't look like cancer. I'm on anti-inflammatory pills and ice packs. If it doesn't go away in two weeks I gotta go back b/c it could also be a lipoma (which is when the fatty cells grow on their own in a benign way). It makes my fingers tingle. Ewwy!
---
soundtrack: boom ba

The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus

Just finished watching Heath Leger's last film. I love when Johnny Depp says: "Nothing is permanent, not even death." In many ways I felt like all the characters in the film were acting out of their own selfish interests. The morality and the hang man. Death and life, inevitability.

The really interesting part was the struggle surrounding individual choices as the lines began to blur. How do you know which "choice" is the right one? Heaven and Hell are rarely so well defined as clearly written lettering on a door. It reminded me of I <3 Huckabees. It's a movie that would go well with late night delirium coupled with amateur philosophizing. LOL! :D

Meditation - Compassion

I went to meditation today. The practice on Sundays centers on visualizing negative energy being drawn into the person meditating and radiating out love and compassion. Tonglen - giving and receiving. As I meditated, the negative and the positive seemed almost the same to me. It's hard to phrase how I felt during the practice. I felt the euphoria and the goodness that lightheaded feeling that comes as everything goes calm. Yet, I know that there is more to meditation than feeling good. Emotion is subjective. I can feel bad, good, pain, joy, but in the end it is not the goal. The goal is to get closer to the stillness beyond those things. Because both the positive and the negative are both maras in themselves, it seems to me that giving and receiving itself is a mara. It is all one and the same. In the quiet, their are different expressions or forms that the maras take...from there they anchor a person in place. According to the meditation, maras are illusions.

I want to get closer to the stillness. I've prayed in charismatic Catholic youth groups and felt the emotional build up that comes with it. In adoration, there is a stillness that mirrors the Buddhist meditation; however, there is also this idea of petitioning. From what I have seen so far, Buddhist meditation is about compassion and acceptance. To accept myself and the events around me in all their darkness and light and try be still within them.

Protege Moi

I'm hoping to make meditation tomorrow. Thurs, I realized I was content with where I was during the meditation...and that kind of made me realize I needed to push myself a bit more...

Contentment is good, but it can keep you from progressing. I want to understand as much as I can.


(This Video is from the Movie Mirror Mask by Neil Gaiman. The Song is by Placebo. I didn't make it...but it sums up my mood sometimes.)
---

On another note, I found a small lump on my arm. I'm going to the doctor Mon. to have them look at it. Hopefully it's nothing. But, I am stressing out a good bit.

The Karate Kid...Re-mixed

I went with Brandon after work to see the new Jackie Chan movie. Jayden Smith was surprisingly good (he has a LOT of Will Smith's mannerisms which is REALLY funny to watch)! The plot was the exact same theme as the original, but redone. There were a lot of tribute moments for fans of the original. "Strike hard, Strike fast, No Mercy Sir!" -- the Cobra theme from the original was funny to watch in Chinese with English subtitle! The martial arts was better in this version than in the original. (BEAUTIFUL CHOREOGRAPHY!!!)

I will always love the original, and Mr. Meagi is irreplaceable. But, Jackie Chan/the movie is successful because he does not try to be the original. (He doesn't even have the same name etc.) Rather, it builds off what was a successful story idea, makes it its own, and pays tribute to the original in little touches.

New Design feature on Blogger

I was just playing around with blogger's new design section. I like it a lot. I had customized my blog before using html copy and pasted from another site and a template I'd downloaded. But the new design feature was a whole lot easier (and no html knowledge is needed now). It took me all of a couple hours to redesign my site. And it would have gone a lot quicker, but I was indecisive about the background/header image etc. :D Very cool stuff!

Favoritest Eric Moment of all time! :D

This is the scene when Eric trick's Sookie into drinking his blood! Favorite line? ..."I'm dying ...ehhh..." ROFLMAO!

a bottle of red...and true blood :P

I'm a lil tipsy right now...not to the point of intoxication but pleasantly fuzzy. I'm watching the second season of True Blood and drooling over Eric Northman. Tomorrow I have to finish my ethics papers. (I worked on personality theory today.)

I found out I can graduate a whole year early if I take 3 courses at a time instead of 2. Right now I'm not struggling with 2, but I am severely stressing. I'm thinking I'll try it out next semester and see what I think...ack...seems like I never stop thinking.

Toying with ideas...

I'm debating an idea for a new tattoo. I really want a quote/bookish one (preferably referencing a work by Neil Gaiman -- He is the author that really made me LOVE books). I want it in a place that's easily covered but can also be showed off on occasion without me having to be scantily clothed. I'm debating between this or a prayer bead anklet for my next one (to symbolize the importance of spirituality in my life)....hmmm...

Here's a picture of a Neil Gaiman image from Coraline that speaks to me. I like the keyhole aspect and I like the quote....but Coraline isn't my favorite of his works. I really like his book Neverwhere and his comic series Sandman, and am debating putting a different quote in the same general spot in the keyhole.

The following are some quotes I like from various Neil Gaiman works...not all would fit in the keyhole, but I haven't really finished working it out or where I'd put it:

"Face your life
Its pain, its pleasure
Leave no path untaken"

"Beware of Doors." (this is one that I'm thinking of replacing in the keyhole from Neverwhere)

"He had gone beyond the world of metaphor & simile into the place of things that are, and it was changing him."

"He had noticed that events were cowards: they didn't occur singly, but instead they would run in packs and leap out at him all at once.”

“But he did not understand the price. Mortals never do. They only see the prize. Their hearts desire, their dream....But the price of getting what you want is getting what you once wanted.”

“We all not only could know everything. We do. We just tell ourselves we don't to make it all bearable.”

"Things need not have happened to be true. Tales and adventures are the shadow truths that will endure when mere facts are dust and ashes and forgotten”

“This is a work of fiction. All the characters in it, human and otherwise, are imaginary, excepting only certain of the fairy folk, whom it might be unwise to offend by casting doubts on their existence. Or lack thereof.”

“It was a dark and stormy nightmare”

“I lost some time once. It's always in the last place you look for it.”

“Charitably...I think...Sometimes perhaps one must change or die. And in the end, there were perhaps limits to how much he could let himself change.”

Apocalyptica

I love this song:) & this video! ...I love Escaflowne!!! & this is part of my soundtrack playlist:D

Mod Cloth :D

My Wish List!

I love this site...I think I'm going to order a coat for when I go to Chicago in the winter...and a few accessories too!:D

I still need to book a hotel room and a flight...as well as come up with a couple of things me and Brandon can do once my classes are done for the day. I want to enjoy myself a lil bit! I also need to buy some more work pants pretty soon. My one's I have now are wearing out a bit (I need to sew up the hem of one before it comes completely undone!

Stand

Another song from my soundtrack playlist. It seemed appropriate.

Feeling a bit better...

After going to the funeral, I feel both better and worse at the same time...if that makes any sense at all. The School counselor that was supposed to email me their interview today fell through. They totally said they'd do it, and well didn't. I went on Just ask .com and found a counselor on there to interview last minute. Hopefully, it will work:P I can only do so much.

Brandon is still offshore. I miss my snuggle bunny:P **has a sappy moment** ...I wanna cuddle...and Dexter the cat makes my nose itch when he tries to jump in my face throughout the night (if I let him snuggle in bed):P:P:P

---

2 more projects down and one step closer to a Masters!!! :D My aunt tried quizzing me on if I'd consider going back to teaching right now...uh ... no! If I did that I would pretty much be insuring I wouldn't graduate until 2014 or 2015 with how few classes I'd be able to take. I'm thinking of taking 1 class at a time after that and continuing for the PsyD. The only thing is I want to make sure the PsyD would qualify me as a psychologist in Louisiana or if I'd have to get that degree from a different school. Oh well, I'll worry about that later.

Going to bed now, I'll try to wake up in time for meditation tomorrow.

Butterfly -- Amanda

bright little wings
vibrant
green
blue
gold
open and close
open --
-- and close

dance
air treads its way
over
under
around
your wings
open and close
open --
-- and close

alight on a flower
hues of red
pink
green
the sweet smell
last flight

-- and close


---

Today a friend of mine passed away...she was only in her early twenties. One thing I will always remember about her, was the way she would randomly cut/dye her hair. She was always trying out anime like hair styles and edgy looks. She was always happy when I saw her. And, always cared most for those she loved & protected them fervently.
Here is the Link to Her Obit.

Indifference and Inflexibility

PHOENIX - A nun and administrator at a Catholic hospital in Phoenix has been reassigned and rebuked by the local bishop for agreeing that a severely ill woman needed an abortion to survive.

Sister Margaret McBride was on an ethics committee that included doctors that consulted with a young woman who was 11 weeks pregnant late last year, The Arizona Republic newspaper reported on its website Saturday. The woman was suffering from a life-threatening condition that likely would have caused her death if she hadn't had the abortion at St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center.

~ MSNBC

---

All life is sacred, but if the nun had allowed the patient to die so to would the 11wk old infant. Furthermore the church bishop has mentioned excommunicating the nun/persons involved. Ok lets not throw stones...I'll forgive you for insulting my intelligence...but how about the church set an example of forgiveness and mercy toward the patient and the doctors that were placed in this extremely emotional and difficult situation. Whether they are right or wrong, people are not perfect and can only do the best they can with the circumstances they are given. I believe in many of the traditions of Catholicism although personally I understand that there are exceptions to the rulebook. If there weren't exceptions, Jesus would have preached that his followers follow the current pharisees and rabbis of his era rather than break away and challenge those teachings.

Challenge your faith. Nothing is so sacred that it can not be challenged. Is it a loving response? Or are you hurling stones? Personally, I feel the church is hurling boulders in this instance.

Stress, and stomach ...

I'm finally done with the second section in my big ethics project. I'm stressed between school and work. And a friend of mine is in ICU right now. A's not any better. Please keep her in your prayers. Last I heard, she looked slightly better; but the night before they thought she wouldn't make it through the night.

My stomach's been rejecting food the past day and a half. I thought it was just stress, but it may also be a combination of stress + weather changing + a mild bug...I feel icky. Went to work anyway today b/c I'm off on Mon/Tues. Didn't sell anything today & there was no traffic on the lot. Which, in a commission based field translates into more stress and ACK!

Dexter the cat is trying to climb on my lap & I have to get some rest be4 wk in the AM. I hope I feel better tomorrow.

Living Proof...

Song: Paramore - Fences
---

Another song on my soundtrack o' life lol! :D

Aggravation...

Why does ppl have to be all pissy and assholeish when ur trying to be happy and sharing with them??? Why can't they take the spirit of the action instead of wanting perfection.

I'm sick of perfection.

All I want is goodwill.

Why is that so hard?

Concerns...stress...and future goals...

I've been stressing out a lot lately. I have a lot I want to accomplish and very little time to do it in... my brother is autistic, and B & I might one day have to help support him. My parents had me later in life and I will probably have to support them sooner rather than later. I have personal goals and things I would like to be able to do with my life...and b/w putting family into perspective...feel a bit lost in the shuffle.

Our lil 2b/2b home works for now. Hopefully we can pay it down enough over the next 5-6years to be able to rent it out. I know we want to keep it so bro can have his own space if necessary. We also want to buy a bigger place for us after I get done with school. B also may go back for his Bachelor's degree, and I still haven't ruled out a psyd.

Physically, stress makes me gain weight even without eating. So wing chun once a week is essential to maintaining physical health. Meditation has become so important to me. Prayer is good. I enjoy prayer. But, sitting quietly with God and listening. It can be so hard to sit still and listen between emotions/stress/life/work/etc.

I'd like to write a book...but time and laziness combine to sabotage my efforts. Once I graduate, I want to take my parents and bro on a vacay to celebrate...just haven't figured out the logistics of it yet, & I won't mention it until it's practical. Bro still needs to learn to drive in order to help with his independence. Hopefully B can start taking him driving this summer. To top it all off, the autism and a lack of social interaction ability on Bro's part means he doesn't understand that ppl are trying to help him and he treats our parents resentfully.

I also miss B. when he's offshore. It seems we never stop working and actually enjoy a lazy day together anymore. We need a weekend get away pretty soon...I think in a few months I may see about getting away to some place in Louisiana...just not N.O. again...we need to get away the 2 of us & not worry about anything but just chilling. I know I'm ranting. But I definitely needed a cathartic rant. Right now, I feel like I'm trying to do everything with lil back up & no "bones" being thrown my way. Right now I'd take a give me...Hell I don't wanna win the whatever-million dollar powerball...just a lil somethin-somethin :D LOL!

Thoughts while meditating...

I am everybody
I am nobody
Everybody is me
Nobody is me

---

Yea Yoda popped into my head and I wanted to put it down...ahh the randomness. I went to compassion meditation, I'm always so excited to go and always feel so peaceful afterward.

On another note, I find it interesting the similarities between Buddhist and Christian teachings: Buddhism focuses on Faith, Hope, and Wisdom. Christianity - Faith, Hope, and Love.

~ L

Geekdom...

I have figured out how to use my Time Machine (1TB) wireless HD as an external and also how to network my Itunes account to pick up the Time Machine for all my music/movies etc...:):):) This will allow me a TON more storage :):):) JOY!!! now the only problem would come in if we ran out of storage on the 1TB??? hmmm...right now that's a long way off...but still...

I suppose if that happened I could get an expansion for the HD? or maybe redirect where all files are found in????

4 right now though...it means my measly lil computer with only 60GB of space just expanded to a TB and me and Brandon can BOTH sync to it...although I'm not messing with his compy without talking with him 1st! LOL!!!

***geekily accomplished!***
------

For Those that want to do it:
1) set up time machine
2) Drag Itunes folder to time machine
3) set itunes preferences and change location of folder to the time machine
4) backup computer to time machine (to be safe)
5) delete all itunes music/files on main computer (Itunes should now be reading the time machine for the library info)
6) you may have some songs doubled due to the library and the time machine transfer...delete any duplicates and your good to go
7) if more than one computer in house wants access to these songs...reset their accounts to find the folder repeating above steps...
((may have to redelete duplicate songs))
8) once set up all downloads/music will read off the time machine and free up laptops/desktops:):):)

To Do's for Upcoming Days/Week...

This is just boring mundane ranting here...I needed to make a list of all the stuff coming up be4 I goes crazy:D:D:D lol!

1) finish cleaning and put up laundry
2) watch film for Theories of Personality (and pick which 1 to do project on)(thurs night)
3) start writing paper for Ethics project section 1 (FRI)
4) look up ethics/legal laws for local area (FRI)
5) responses to discussions for this week (2on FRI & 2on SAT) (due be4 sat night)
6) discussion prompts next week (2 on Sun)
7) discussion prompts next week cont... (2 on Mon)
8) Write more on proj 4a1
& 4a2 (DUE SUN)

............

AAAAAAAAAAAAAahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!

Walkabout...I so wanna do this!

This guy walked from china to germany...as a present to himself. It took him 1 yr, and watching the time lapse vid you can actually watch him change...wow...

The Longest Way 1.0 - one year walk/beard grow time lapse from Christoph Rehage on Vimeo.

Soundtrack Excerpt...

I have a soundtrack playlist on Youtube that is composed of songs that are "ME"... here's one of them...

Workish...Meditation etc...

I sold 2 cars today and didn't get to eat lunch...bleh... It seems like I never stop moving, ever. I really enjoy meditation, it gives me that moment of pause before returning to the hectic universe.

I went yesterday to a medicine Buddha blessing at the Tibetan Cultural Center. The Rinpoche came in to do the blessing which was cool b/c he only comes to Louisiana 2-3times/year apparently. It was amazing. It was a meditation to remove obstacles and promote healing. I meditated on removing whatever mental/physical/ or spiritual obstacles I might have that are preventing me from having a deeper relationship with "GOD."

Well it's time to go to bed...night all...

PS- I had a sense of "like I knew Rinpoche" even though it was my first time meeting him... yeah...so not reading into that one.

NEways thought that was neat.

Reactions to Brokeback Mountain...

Well...I found the movie really really boring for the most part. Most of the movie has no action, its just angst and emotionally sappy scenes. Of course it had a sad ending, that sucked. (I cried a lil when Jack died.)

But for the most part, the movie was incredibly boring. I watched it and felt like I had A.D.D. the whole time! I missed half the dialogue. Also, the movie went on and on and on. It seemed like a lot of the scenes could've taken half the time.

Broke Back Mountain...Ethics

I have to watch this movie for my ethics class. I have no interest in watching this movie (even though it does have Heath Ledger in it). I'm ok with the guy on guy aspects. I'm anti sappy cowboy movies and overly sappy plots. I'll let u know my reactions after actually watching it. Who knows...it might not be that bad? :P bleh

A Blasphemous Thought:P

Ok...I know this a lil on the side of "blasphemy"!But, I'm just trying to work out an idea that's floating around in my head.

Jesus = son of God, and referred to all of us as children of God. Which, familial speaking, means that we are the brothers and sisters of Christ. Buddah promotes awareness of self, and considered himself a teacher (much in the way that Jesus was referred to as Rabbi). In fact, many Buddhists feel that Christ is a "Buddha" or "Teacher" on the Way. Assuming these are not mutually exclusive ideals. Then we have the potential within us to be teachers in a similar way and are limited only in our levels of devotion, belief, and openness to faith/god/etc.

??? (ok now that I've over thought faith enough for one day...)

---

Current Belief of Faith: Faith is more than belief in a higher power or religion. It is the act of seeking out a deeper relationship with that higher power, and the willingness to challenge ALL beliefs in pursuit of that goal. Those beliefs that are challenged create a possibility for openness to new ideas and ways of understanding. The beliefs that remain after that challenge are further strengthened as a result. It is Faith tempered by Reason.

Tuesday Winging it:)

Well,

I'm almost done with all my papers for the week:) (Hopefully I have time to get ahead on next week's work so I won't be AS stressed out next week.) I've got a quiz in ethics to take that I'm a little worried about, it'll be my first time taking a true quiz online (my other classes have been major paper writing up until this point).

Tonight is Wing Chun:) I'm looking forward to it...although I still hurt a lil from last weeks class...I'm going to gets in shape or die trying!...

...***waves white flag** I surrenders!

Faith Collared

I'm listening to a news broadcast on the fact that women are not able to be priests in the Catholic church. I can remember asking my parents if I could be a priest when I was little. Unfortunately, I am female. Religiously, right and wrong in this issue is blurred. However, personally, if I could have a religious calling to priesthood AND be a married female...I would be. My personal feelings have little impact in the long run. Buddhism has nuns. Protestants have married preachers that are both male and female. Catholicism has nuns, but those nuns are seen as secondary to the priests. Is this a medieval mindset? or true doctrine? Life changes, society evolves. Or at least it should.

BTW? Whatever happened to Mary? (The following is a song from the movie Stigmata, which I love.)

Meditation Feelings Reflection

Being quiet is so completely different from what I normally experience in daily life. I'm in sales (a high pressure, fast paced profession), I'm in school (with deadlines and all the stress that comes with them), and then there is the regular day to day issues/challenges (road rage, appointments, errands). While I did not get to go to Meditation this Sun, I'm really looking forward to going Thurs. I have meditated previously when practicing martial arts, yet this new practice takes it to another level. The length of time is greatly extended, which worried me at first...I mean it's kind of intimidating an hour/hour and a half...But, surprisingly, this wasn't an issue for me.

Personally, I think it was a combination of having meditated/or focused for shorter periods of time in the past and the interspersed chants in Tibetan. It seemed like every time my mind started to wander, the monk began a chant which required all my attention and help re-center my focus.
---
The monk and the other participants in meditation were all willing to answer questions or help me keep up. In fact, I felt a little badly that I had nothing specific to ask them. It's not that I think I know everything coming into a traditional Buddhist meditation for the first time ever! It's that I feel I don't know the questions yet...and I'm trying to keep an open mind and not put my expectations on the experience. I just want to experience the peace/calm and take each moment a step at a time.

School insanity...

You know your tired and were up too late working on papers when....

... the dentists chair feels incredibly comfortable and you find yourself falling asleep while they clean your teeth. :P

---

Today:
8am -- went to dentist
Just finished paper for theories of personality. I think I'll take a lunch break before editing my paper and starting on ethics class. (Ewwy! I have a quiz in Ethics tomorrow! bleh!)

Buddah Belly

Pleasure arises from sustaining mindfulness even into old age. Happiness arises from sustained devotion to the path. Joy arises with wisdom. Bliss arises from casting off all craving. ~ The Hands of the Buddha

I've started going to meditations weekly at the local Tibetan Cultural Center. I've always had an interest in Buddhism and Zen philosophy. Even as I was studying to be a nun, I read about meditation and eastern practices. I just never could work up the courage to actually check out a Buddhist temple. I guess I was afraid that all the people in there would be Asian and/or not be able to understand the service b/c I only spoke English. I was also afraid of being seen as one of those western hippie types that wears eastern tradition like an accessory. I want to expand my awareness and my understanding of faith and reason, not preach or flaunt.

When I went with my friend Brit, the only way I could describe the meditation practice was a feeling like "coming home." I've never felt so comfortable, so welcome, or so at peace as when I was meditating. I can't wait to go again.

Hello blog:)

It's very nice to meet you! I have not blogged in a while, and had begun to miss the space to vent and organize my thoughts. I also am procrastinating instead of working on my unit 2 project for Theories of Personality.

:P