Beautiful Life...

I have been feeling like a jerk lately.  Why?  Because so many of my friends are having hard times and struggling.  Me?  Oh, who'm I kidding!  We're all having hard times and struggling right now.  So, I have my very own set of issues.  However, I can't get this silly grin off of my face.  I'm just happy!  Life has been pretty alright lately.  I don't have a winning lottery ticket or anything like that.  I'm just finding that I'm totally ok - on an emotional level.  I can't find a lot to complain about.  I bounced back from being sick the last few weeks.  I'm suspecting bronchitis or something in that family.  But, I still can't laugh without hacking and whatever.  But, the aches and pains that accompanied this previously have left.  I'm feeling alive and I have my energy back.  I just wanna go, go, go!  So, if you wanna ask me if I wanna go somewhere, the answer is yes - provided I haven't' said yes to something else already.  I'm just happy!  I love life and I love living it.  I feel bad for all of those who have lost their jobs, or family members, or spouses, or whatever.  But, I'm here to tell you, it gets better and there's changing winds; the glory of the earth turning!  Anyway, if you're hurting because of someone, chances are you put too much into the wrong peeps.  You can't blame people because they are incapable of treating you the way you want to be treated!  It just means that particular person was the wrong person.  Scoop it up, and carry on.  You'll be alright!  Just watch! 

Now, on a different note, it's camping season and I wanna go.  We've talked about it, and decided that maybe we'll try the route of renting a camper this time.  There's too much with kids and my mom and all that stuff.  So, renting a camper just might make things - different - but fun just the same.  Especially because today, we found a campground type thing that is a "members only" type of arrangement.  The people all looked older, and the "wilderness" features a few really great bass ponds.  The guy also said that there is a huge issue with rattlesnakes.  So, that part is a little unnerving.  But, if we rent a camper and join this group, then we can camp there anytime we have an RV.  So, there's a fun time!  The tent, in a place like that, would just ensure we'd be sending someone out by helicopter.  Zac and his lack of fear and limited pain sensation would just about guarantee that.  Brennon lacks coordination, through no fault of his own.  Anyway, I could run down the list and give reasons why we'd all be in trouble.  But, it's more fun to just say that we'd really have to watch out.  It would take every adult at our disposal to help make sure those sneaky snakes take a detour en route to any of us.  Ha!  It would be ironic though, seeing as how we've been "snake hunting" for the last few days and haven't seen a single one.  We're smart!  We stay in the car and go to those places where they're supposedly "guaranteed to see a snake."  Still, nothing!  It would be my luck, I'd wake up and find one snuggled up, sleeping right beside me.  And, I'm here to tell you, I'd probably cause gingerbread shaped cut outs in the side of that shelter - no matter what kind it would be.  I have a history of moving pretty fast when snakes come around - so I'm told.  All I know is the one that was slithering across my foot caused me to black out for a second and I was standing on the bottom step and bounded up to the top (approx. 6 stairs - maybe 8?) without ever knowing I had moved.  Fight or flight took over and my aunt about hurt herself from laughing at me so hard.  I was scared - I'll admit it.  And when I lived in MS, we had a house built on a lake - so there was no shortage of the slithering little beasts there for sure.  But, there, I had a dog that was very protective and with the exception of 2, did very well at keeping them away from us.  (One he didn't keep away from us was on the outside of his kennel in the side yard.  The other one had apparently decided to build himself a den at the base of a drain spout and had obviously been there for quite some time - we just never noticed him.  Anyway, bottom line is that I'm scared about bald of snakes - and here I am out trying to hunt them down.  I apparently suffer from a lack of good sense.  But, it's been fun so far and we've discovered all kinds of places around us that we'd have never known about otherwise.  It's a fun time!  I'll do my best to take photos if and when we hit pay dirt. 

Finally, I'd like to say that while I do have a heart and I do feel bad for all those struggling with life right now, I do hope that everyone can find something that makes them smile.  Life is tough for everyone right now.  So what if you didn't get approved for that refinancing!  So what if the bank is coming for your car.  Who cares that you're having to choose between buying groceries and paying bills.  It happens.  And, anything lost is a sign that it's time for your like to exclude whatever you're giving up.  It will be ok.  I've lost houses and cars.  It sucks and it hurts.  But, it's also nice when you don't have to worry every month about paying for those things anymore.  So, take the time to let it go and just simplify.  You gotta eat!  Your kids gotta eat!  It's a no brainer.  If you're working 22 out of 24 hours a day just to scrape by, then it's really time to give it up.  Take pride out of the equation, and take desire out of it and you would've given it up already.  Pride and desire can easily be rejuvenated.  All it takes is one more "the" thing.  Just watch!  We're all one "want" away from being right where we want to be.  Without desire, we lack a need to get up in the morning.  But, in the same notion, we have to learn to desire things that are healthy for us.  Am I gonna tell you that a Prius is the answer?  Uhhhhhmmmmm....NO!  Not just no, but HELL NO!  But, there's a lot of possibilities in the world.  For every person that has to give back a house or a car is a bank that isn't getting money from you for them anymore.  They are going to be desperate to unload that liability pretty quick.  So, they're going to need to be especially clever about wheeling and dealing.  So, while that may not help you on your particular car or house, it may help on one of the multiple other broken dreams in the world.  It's sad, I know.  But, think necessity rather than want.  You'll see you've been silly to try to make it all come together anyway.  And, if you are worried that you're not going to be able to fix it all by tomorrow, in the words of Dave Ramsey, "You didn't get in debt overnight.  Why would you expect to fix it over night?"  You can't!  It's just not human to be able to pull some of this off.  But, take away the lesson and you'll be rich beyond your ever years!  If you like this concept, you might be interested in a book by Dave Ramsey!  Try it out.  It's very helpful and it will help you see that it's not just you.  It's all of us and it's a lot the same mistake!  So, no worries!

Gotta Love Ryan...

If you're looking for a movie, this movie is a good one if you're looking for something that feels true and easy to relate to.  I really wish Ryan Gosling would quit trying to look like a 70's porn star.  He's hot!  But, that's just my opinion.  Anyway, this movie hit close to home for a number of reasons.  And, if you look to the left, I found it for you cheaper than you can get it at most any place.  It's worth every bit of the $3.99, for sure.  Plus, you could rent this movie, but when you can own it for just a couple bucks more, I'd go the route of purchasing it. 

It's a movie that follows a married couple.  Their love has kind of run shallow.  They both have resentment towards each other.  The story does flashbacks of how they first met and what was going on prior to.  There were parts of the movie that I couldn't relate to on a personal level, but it was real enough to believe that some people could relate.  I've never had an abortion, and I've never had 25 sex partners.  That was a little off for me.  But, in terms of the way she feels about her husband, I felt I could relate to Michelle Williams.  I've been there.  I'm sure many women have.  But, I can't figure out why she's so resistant to him.  As the story shows, he's a pretty good guy.  He does a lot for her that could've only been done if he really loved her.  So, I don't know how one builds so much resistance to someone who, seemingly, gives so much of himself.  He's a good dad to the little girl.  He's a goofball, and he needs a better job.  But, when she gets on his case about that, I love his reply. 

Anyway, this story is a very real life type of movie.  It shows how 2 people that were so much in love can become.  The ending was sad, because it's just so true.  It wasn't spoon fed to the viewer in terms of what you expect.  But, this movie seems to be a very fair and adequate representation of what our society has become for married people.  Her life, prior to him, is probably more to blame than anything.  How do you know love if you rarely see it?  It's a good movie, anyway.  I'm glad I watched it and I hope you'll check it out and let me know what you think.  Be warned, there are sexual scenes that are not fitting for the kids to see.  It's a little more than the movies typically put up for us to see.  There is also little to now warning, so this one is best to watch without the kids.  I hopeyou enjoy the movie.  Let me know what you think!

10 Guilty Pleasures...

First of all, I would like to thank Chris Brogan for the idea for this blog.  You can see what he's up to at http://chrisbrogan.com
Anyway, I am going to write about guilty pleasures.  Why?  Because, maybe we share some, maybe we don't, maybe you need some new ones, or maybe you just might want to share yours as well.  Either way, this is my list!  I hope you enjoy and again, feel free to share your list if you wanna!


1)  This one goes to Red Bull!  I love the stuff and I'd drink them one after the other, if only that was a good idea.  I'm going on a Red Bull starvation of about...3, maybe 4 days without.  I'm doing very well and haven't even thought about it once until just now!  Hmmm...now, I want!

2)  This has to go to movies!  I love movies.  I have several movie channels through my cable service.  I have Netflix through the Wii.  I have also realized I can't rent movies anymore.  I've paid Redbox so much money for movies I haven't returned that I should probably own my own box by now.  I wish they'd just hand it over!  But, I'm a huge fan!  I get annoyed when I can't think of a movie to watch and I end up having to put the TV on LMN.  I've seen most of those numerous times.  It's ridiculous!  That doesn't even count my DVD collection or the movies I've bought from iTunes!  Ridiculous!

3)  Cheeseburgers!  Oh, how I LOVE cheeseburgers!  If I could, I'd eat one for every meal.  But, the reality is, they're just not healthy.  So, I don't eat them near as often as I'd like to.  I try to keep it to once a week or less when I can help it.  I don't want to BE a cow!  So, I really have to restrict myself!

4)  French fries!  French fries could probably, fairly be my number 1!  I am such a fan!  I like steak fries, shoestrings, you name it!  I like them salty and with ketchup or ranch dressing.  But, my all time favorite has to be to dip them in a chocolate shake or something like that.  YUMMY!  But, the reason this one can't be number one is, because like the cheeseburgers, I have to ration myself.  I'll be honest though.  I do eat fries more than I allow myself to eat a cheeseburger.  I know it's not good.  But, fries seem to be a side dish for so many dishes.  Ha ha!  Ok, seriously, I'm a fiend for potatoes in general.  Not healthy, I know.  But, what can I do?

5)  This one goes to driving.  I love to go for drives with no real destination in mind.  Lately, however, it seems that's just a stupid move, considering gas prices.  I still sneak out and burn off some gallons every now and then.  But, for the most part, I'm annoyed that gas companies report record profits and still I have to pay out the wazoo for the stuff.  It seems to me that if they are reporting record profits, then they could surely lower the cost at the pump.  It's just my logic though.

6)  Gotta give this one to music!  I listen to many different kinds of music.  I like rock, reggae, punk, alternative, country, blues, jazz, classical, religious and just about anything in between.  I'm very open minded when it comes to music.  I believe every one of us has a purpose on this earth.  If I listen to a song that speaks to me in some way, I relate it to a good sermon in church.  I think we get messages in many different ways.  If we like a song, there is a reason.  So, I just let my ears hear what they hear and if I like it, then I just do and I don't apologize to anyone for any of it.  I can listen to something hardcore and turn around and listen to a tear jerker.  I don't limit myself to one specific genre.  There's so much good stuff out there!  And, for those of you who have ever suffered hearing the song over and over again, because I refuse to let it go, thank you for your patience!  That's one of my signature moves right there!  Repeating the song, or burning it multiple times on the same cd.  It's just how I roll.  Some of you know all too well.  Again, thank you!

7)  Candles take the cake here.  I love candles, but I'm picky.  I like candles that are packed with fragrance from beginning to end.  I like the smell as they burn and I also like when a room smells like the candle does when it's "cold."  So, I will frequently find a fragrance I like and buy multiples of it so I can have the room smelling like that candle rather it's burning or not.  For example, when you go into a craft store - such as where you buy finished goods - they usually smell like cinnamon.  It doesn't matter if it's Christmas time or not.  I love that smell.  I love how you can buy a quilt or something cloth from the store and it smells of cinnamon when you get it home.  I had a throw that was given to me as a gift once.  I didn't wash that throw for the longest time because it smelled like cinnamon for quite a while.  I loved it!  Anyway, candles are a guilty pleasure.  I love to have things that smell good!

8)  Surfing the internet is another of my guilty pleasures.  It's one of those things where you sit down with the intention of looking for one specific thing and I look at 80 billion other things in the process.  I love how I can look up anything I want and I can move to anything else, with finishing up on one something entirely different.  I love the convenience!  I like that there is no late fees.  I think it's cool that I have yet to research anything I couldn't find something about.  I try to stump my browser sometimes, and every time, it comes back with results and it even boasts about how many point seconds it found the results in.  Very fun to me!  So, I have to limit myself or I could easily burn up all my days just surfing and learning. 

9)  Watching people is probably another guilty pleasure.  I am very psychologically minded.  I am fascinated by the things people do.  I like to sit and watch them exist in their world.  Not in a stalker type of way.  I just sit on patios and watch people as they pass.  I try to figure out what they do for a living.  I wonder if they have kids.  I wonder if I would have anything in common with them.  Then, when they do something peculiar, I wonder what inspired them to do it.  One fun "experiment" for me was sitting in a hotel lobby where they had glass tiles on the floor.  These were like windows and there was a fountain below the glass floor with a little stream/creek running under it.  This was really fun to see how various people reacted to this floor.  I used to dream of having a house with a floor like this one.  I have since decided against it.  It turns out, even though it's not a big drop to the ground below, people don't like walking across this floor.  People would go out of their way to walk on solid flooring, rather than jaunting across the glass floor.  Some people would accidentally happen onto the glass floor while talking to a companion.  Almost every time, they would gasp in fear and jump from the, obviously, stable transparent floor to the regular marble beside the glass.  I found this very entertaining.  And, oddly enough, I was surprised that I, myself, didn't like walking on the glass any more than the others.  But, it was very entertaining just the same. 

10)  I saved this one for last because I could talk about this forever.  But, I'll spare you and try to limit my examples.  But, I LOVE pretty things.  I like things that make me feel pretty.  I like things that make my home look pretty.  I just like pretty!  Bows, lace, frills, embroider, sparkly, shiny, colorful, black and white.  It doesn't matter!  I find beauty in so many things.  Sometimes it's a trinket.  Sometimes, it's a photograph.  It may be a vase.  I have collected images from magazines because they were pretty.  I also find beauty in human beings.  Sometimes, unfortunately, it's superficial.  But, it's often a thing of people become more beautiful to me the better I get to know them.  So, I guess it's fair to say I like beautiful people.  This is not limited to a gender or an age group.  This is humanity!  I have looked at a total stranger and thought, "He's so beautiful!" and I've looked at women and thought, "I so wish I was her!  She's so pretty!"  I love flowers.  I love touching sentiments.  I have cried over beauty.  I can watch a dance and I can get teary over how beautiful the dance was.  I can look at a look 2 people share and see how beautiful it is.  I can watch a mother and her child and I see the beauty.  I just love beautiful things and there's so many in this world.  I love this life and I love the beauty that it's filled with.  I can find splendor in a forest - completely untouched by mankind.  I can find beauty in the art in the park in a metropolitan area.  There is no limit and trust!  I am always looking!  Butterflies, birds, cars, trees, paintings, pictures, lights, bubbles, eyes, facial features, sculptures, greeting cards, facial expressions, human movement, water, sand, nature, no matter where I go, I see beauty.  So, I put this one last because, truly, this one has to be last because it could ramble forever!

Again, I'd like to thank Chris Brogan for this idea for a blog.  Feel free to visit him at http://chrisbrogan.com

T

My Horrible-scope! Or HORRORscope - whichever! :)

Tuesday, June 14
You may be feeling confused at times today, and are not sure why. You may find that your subconscious mind is playing tricks on your imagination, and you are a bit distracted because your thoughts are on play and entertainment, not on the daily chores.

Numbers 9, 36, 44, 48, 54 Compatibility Gemini

 Goodnight all!  C-ya!
>--<3--->

I love this movie!!  I just watched this movie and it was so cute.  Jennifer Aniston and Gerard Butler are a divorced couple and she has a bench warrant for her arrest for a failure to appear.  Gerard Butler is a ex-cop turned bounty hunter and is determined to turn his ex-wife in for the bounty.  It is full of funny!  But, the end is a little different than you might expect.  It's a very charming movie and I think it's great!  So far, I've found it for only $2.05 on Amazon.  So, if you're looking for a cute movie with a little action, a little drama, and a whole lot of "getting even," then I think you'd get a kick out of this movie!  Good luck and I hope you enjoy it!

Fun Things To Read

Ever wonder if there is any truth to what a person's handwriting says about them?  There is truth to it.  I've been reading this book and it teaches you how to see beyond the exterior of a person.  All you need is a sample of their handwriting.  It teaches you what their slant says about them, what the shape of the letters mean, even the spacing.  It is full of fun information.  You can learn how a person truly feels about you just by how they write your name.  You can find out how to detect written lies.  But, on a good note, you can also learn the good things too!  You start this book by writing a sample of your own handwriting.  Then there are various quizzes through out the book as you go.  This helps you put what you're learning to work.  It's just something fun and interesting.  Plus, I found it on Amazon for you for $3.67.  Yay!  Whether you're just bored and looking for something interesting to do, or you're wanting it for specific reasons, I highly recommend this book!  It's easy to follow and the author makes it fun!  It's kind of like taking a course, only you're the only student in the class.  They explain things and then give samples.  It's very easy to comprehend and as I said before, it's just a lot of fun and very interesting!  So, check it out!  :)

"Dear Laney" Column

If you have a situation, circumstance, or some dilemma that you would like advice on or that you would like to share to get an opinion or two, feel free to write and state your situation.  I will respond, or if you'd like to get multiple thoughts and opinions, you can post you issue in the comments of this post and other viewers can share their thoughts with you.  Please know that if you write to me, I may change your name to protect your identity, but I will likely post your message and a reply!  If you don't want me to change your name (we all want our 15 of fame, right!) then just let me know.  I wish you all the best and I hope to hear from you soon!

Thank you so much!

I Gotta Be Honest...

My brother and his wife came to visit this last week.  It was GREAT!  There were 7 of us, and so the usual car just wasn't going to work.  So, we rented a car.  They ended up sending me out in a minivan.  My hair stood on end because my "mojo" is not equipped for the stigma that comes with a minivan.  I'm cool!  I'm hip!  I'm the business...  Anyway, you get the point!  So, there I was, standing in Hertz rental car and I was SWEATING!  I was dreading this whole minivan experience.  So, to help in some way, the guys let me pick what color I wanted.  At least that would give me a chance to go for "saucy" in some way.  So, I choose silver.  A bit later, the guy comes pulling up in this, dare I say, "PRETTY," shiny new van.  It was a Dodge Caravan.  "This isn't so bad," I thought.  I got in, after making sure no one was looking, of course.  I situated the seat, mirrors, radio...the usual.  Anyway, then I headed off the car lot.  I was somewhat hunched over, hoping people would not notice me.  I gotta tell you, that's when my head started to get some clarity.  I was driving in a brand new vehicle.  It had comfy seats.  Sure, it was large, but I had forgotten about that, seeing as how I was so worried about my non-existent reputation!  So, it occurred to me that I should relax a little and check this thing out.  As I was driving, I started noticing how my tushy was sinking in to the seat...and it was comfy!  There were buttons for everything in that baby!  It had satellite radio, so that was definitely a plus.  There was storage behind every door in that van.  Even under the floor mats was huge storage compartments.  There was FINALLY enough drink holders and guess what?  They even held the huge double gulp cups from 7-11!  This van was awesome!  Then, we discovered that there was a DVD player in that bad boy!  The kids must've watched Aladdin 700 times, just because that was the only DVD we had in there and they just thought it was cool.  The get up and go was also pleasantly surprising.  The entire time we had that van, no one complained about being uncomfortable.  There was dual climate controls.  The doors were automatic.  The front driver and passenger doors even had amazing storage compartments.  This thing was like a house.  There were various types of outlets all over the interior.  There was even a plug like the wall plugs at home.  The back had a deep storage area behind the seats (which fold down, I might add),  This van was just...rockin'!  So, in summary, though I'm not rich and famous, I STRONGLY endorse this van!  If you're looking at a minivan for your family, this is just what you're looking for!  If you're not looking for a van, give this little number a shot!  But, I will warn you now, after you drive one, you'll be in the market for one!  It truly redefines everything you've ever known about a minivan!  With my mojo in tact, I tried begging the fellas at Hertz to just "forget" I had the van.  Ha!  Needless to say, that didn't go so well.  But, since seeing the cost on these, I'm seriously thinking I REALLY need one!  I'd drive it around town with my head held high and I'd wave at the cute guy in the sporty little car beside me at the stop light, just before I dusted him when the light changed!  OK, I don't guess I'd recommend that - unless you like contributing to the municipal needs of your city.  But, really, check it out!  You'll be glad you did!

She's So Unusual

So, my name is Delane and I'm an avid writer.  I write about all kinds of things on all kinds of subjects.  Sometimes, it just depends on the mood I'm in, but sometimes, it depends on something that moves me in some way.  One day, if I'm having a bad day, you may find my entries to be a bit...dark.  But, if I'm having a good day, I try really hard to be entertaining and funny.  I'm very lighthearted and life is mostly fun for me.  Be assured, however, that it's not always.  Sometimes, it's funny stuff.  Sometimes, it's just trivial.  Every now and then, it's controversial.  But, I try very hard to keep my language to a "G" rating, but sometimes, things just seem so much funnier with an ugly word or two.  If you wondered why you had to agree to enter my blog, this would be why!  No nude photos or anything like that.  Just simply a warning that this ride might get a little bumpy from time to time.  So, if you're here, I hope you'll find things entertaining.  I LOVE to hear thoughts, criticisms and opinions.  I hope you'll feel free to let me know you were here.  Otherwise, I hope you enjoy your visit and I hope you'll stop back really soon!  Things are always changing and things are always fun/funny/amusing (so says me!).  Thanks again for visiting!