Where did the time go?

Dude!

Where did the time go?

Ok, so I'm a bad girl and I haven't updated this in almost a year... *slap*

A lot has changed. I'm almost 21, yahoo! I'm now a crew trainer at Culver's. We have two cats under our roof. Kale and Maggie. Maggie isn't my cat, and Kale is still as loving as ever.

Things that I'm still in the process of is exercise. I'm still trying to make it a habit, but it's slow coming. Eating right. I've made several leaps, I'm no longing eating purely packaged food, no frozen or boxed meals. But I'm still needing to grasp that veggies are good. (I'm a pure meat girl, not veggie)

And I'm still trying to move out. My finances are being pulled and pushed into the mold of living on my own, but It's kicking and screaming. Apartments are not cheap, and I only have a little to spare for rent. So, that actually might be a problem I'm still dealing with next year. I pray it's not though...

I'm trying to go back to school for art classes, not just drawing, painting, sculpting, etc. But I'd like to learn computer graphics, prop making, and set design. My over all dream is to work in New Zealand with the movie industry that's there, but for now, I'd like to learn animation and get my foot into Dreamworks, or Pixar.

Yeah....big dreams....

For now, that's a good recap of what I've been up to. I'll do better to post more often in the future...maybe I'll post every day, like a friend of mine does... :)

Saving to spend...

OK, so this is more an asking for advise. I'm wanting to help myself learn to save money. Just put a little aside each pay check instead of spending it right away. But I'm not going to want to save money unless I'm saving to get something. I mean that's what we save for, a rainy day, or a special item to get? Well, I need to tell myself what I'm saving for in order for me to actually put money into savings. My question to you is this,

Should I save my money for an Ipod? (my mp3 player is broken)

An Ipad? (if you don't know what that is, here's a link http://www.apple.com/ipad/ )

Or a new car? (this would be my preference, but way out of my finance league)

What do you think I should do? Also, is my logic...unlogical?

A New Dawn

The sun seems to be getting brighter as the days get closer to summer. I'm so excited for the warmer weather! But as the sun rises and sets each day, so do phases of life come and go.

This week I've gone through the interviewing process for a new job. I was very nervous when I arrived to plead with the boss for employment. [I didn't really plead...] I made sure that I was sitting up, that my white shirt was still white, and that I made eye contact, didn't gesture with everything I said, and just answered his questions honestly.

And what does he do? Gives me the job....

o_O

I kept asking if he was sure, and if he needed time to think about it, but he was adamant that he was going to hire me.

So, now I'm an employee of Culver's!

I will be at the cash registers, bringing people their food in the dinning room and drive through, and serving custard. I'm excited...but slightly nervous...just because I've never working in...really any place out in the world, and I hope that I get things done right.

{Confession time. I'm happy that I have a job at Culver's, but my hope is that after a few years of working there, I can transfer over to my absolute favorite place to be...Panera Bread!}

Ninja Assassin

So, last night I watch a movie called: Ninja Assassin.

"Not a movie for the faint of heart," as my friend, MangyCat cleverly stated.

It was made by the same companies that put together the awesome Underworld movies, but this time, they added a lot more blood then is in a single human being. There were too many rivers and floods of the red liquid coming out of cuts in area's that don't have a large amount of blood. And then when cuts where inflicted on the main arteries, like heads getting chopped off, there was berely a small splash.

Now I'm, sadly, not a person easily phased by gore. The only thing that bothered me about it was that there wasn't a need for so much blood and parts. And all the gore was, unrealistic. (I'm sorry, some people might like the fact that it doesn't look real, that way they have a reason for calm nerves. But if someone is going to do something graphic, I'd rather it be realistic or not at all.)

Aside from the gore, it was an awesome movie! Ninja, assassin, Jedi, wizard, whatever cool super-person you like, you would love the acrobatics, fight sequences, and characters of this movie.

For me personally, I would so watch it again. It gave me so many ideas for my own Assassin story and just fight scenes in general. I liked the story, and the characters had funny lines and proper motivation to move in the directions the story took them.

When Mangycat and I left the theater, I walked along the ledge next to the lite up billboard that revealed the titles of the movies playing at the $1.75 theater...why it's a dollar seventy-five I don't know, but it's inexpensive which is good...Mangycat thought that it would be cool to take a picture of me. Since the board was the only light around, it would come out as a silhouette. After she took the picture, I almost screamed...wait, I might have screamed. It was awesome! So, once I got the picture off the SMS card and into my computer, I photo shoped a sword into my hand. I love it!

But still, just because I can see the movie, doesn't mean it's for everyone! Very graphic, very blood filled, body parts....truly, "Not for the feint of heart."

Trying, hopefully not failing...

So, I've mentioned earlier that I want get in shape, you know, to be able to run without passing out, to dance, to be flexible, to be able to lift couches without hurting my back...wait I can already do that one...ok, basically I want to loose weight, gain muscle and just be a healthy person.

Back story finished....Anyway, I've been going to the gym with my friend MangyCat as often as my lazy body will let me. (the Christmas season i was dead, but now I've been better about going around 3 to 4 times a week.) But working out isn't enough. I have to eat right as well...

Now, I'm going to confess, I have junk-food-syndrome. I'm a magnet toward all those good tasting foods that are so bad for you. Burgers, fries, soda, ice-cream, the ever popular Cheese-It's, Chex Mix, cookies, candy....I really can go on forever.... But being a magnet toward the junk food, kind of repels the healthier options, like carrots, salad, apples, oranges, whole wheat...whatever. Don't get me wrong, I like those healthy stuff some of the time, but their not foods that are really tasty like junk food. This mentality that I'm in is not going to help me loose weight or, become healthy.

Here's what I'm getting at. Bridget, a good friend of mine, has asked me if I want to run a 5K with her this spring. I've been running on the treadmill (more like walk/run for a minute/walk again/repeat) to get into a running gear, but my weight isn't going anywhere, cause I'm still eating the junk food.

I've been doing better, but I'm still buying snacks, sneaking them into my room and eating them whenever no one is looking...I NEED TO STOP!

But I've tried almost everything! Nothing works long term. I told you, I'm a magnet.

This is what I'm asking you, I need people, not just one person but many, to help keep me accountable. Ask me what I've eaten that day, what I bought at the store, how many snacks I've had that day. But also to pray that I would say no to the temptations of food, and maybe give tips one how to avoid the bad foods, eat the good foods.....I just need help!

Ok, now that confession time is over on the food subject, one last thing. If anyone has any tips on running, or even a what a good workout should look like, I'm all ears!

Catching Up

So, I've noticed the lack of blog posts...sadly life has been happening all around me. I'm not sure I was doing anything except being whirled around in its kayos, but this week I've landed on a patch of solid ground.

Breathing....

A lot has happened this summer. In August I went to the Cleanplace Moot up in Bear Trap Ranch. Oh my goodness! I had a blast! I was able to see old friends and new faces, writing with my fellow CPers and just having an awesome time strengthening relationships. It was amazing!

But also over the months, I have been able to develop some friendships at my church. o_O Shocking I know, but awesome! My sister started a bible study for young women and the girls going there are great. The singles group has developed very well over the summer and enough people are taking college classes here that we are able to keep it going all year. Yes!

I've been practicing drawing Marvel and DC comic styles to help in my desire to make a graphic novel. That's been fun, but time consuming.

I've also gotten a photo shop program and have been playing with putting pictures together for awesome backgrounds and such. Here's one of my favorites.All in all, my writing and art have taken leaps these past few months. My relationship status has gone up, and I'm feeling like a happier person! Yippee!

I'll try to keep up with the posts now that I'm not so busy...sorry for the rushed recap...

Flushed Away

This day we will give a moment of silence for our fallen comrade.

On the evening of the 21st, our beloved

Scooby Doo

breathed his last bubble.


Okay, so this is what happened. I had a longer day of work on Thursday, I babysat the boys, and got home late. So I was getting ready for bed, which includes feeding Scooby Doo his nightly dinner. I went to the tank and he was no longer the beautiful aqua like Scooby's collar, but sheet white and belly up.

I wasn't fully sure what to do, so I waited till morning to take care of the dead. We ceremoniously (not really) placed him in the toilet. A few words were spoken (more like three, 'Goodbye Scooby Doo') and mourners cried (more like my little sister shedding one tear). But alas, our beloved fish, Scooby Doo is now sleeping where fishes lie in a human society.

The toilet.

With Lissi

Lissi, a totally awesome girl and one of my bestest friends, recently came to Colorado for the summer. She's in the Denver aria, not the Springs, so Yesterday I drove up to spend the day with her. Well, it ended up where I spent the night with her too. We were able to talk a lot and joke about things we see in life, while watching the two kids she helps take care of.

We went shopping at a thrift store, a pawn shop, at Albertsons, etc. Today we're going to Hobby Lobby and Wal-Mart for things that Punkin needs to make me a...dress...*gasp*!

It's for the Renaissance Festival, so it's not anything like a Sunday dress or anything.

But It's been an awesome couple of days. I pray that Lissi will be able to stay in CO. (Little note in here from Lissi: And I pray that Legolas will ALWAYS be one of my best friends. :) ) Love you so much Girl!!

Well, I need to get back to spending time with the Awesome Lissi! See you all soon!

Plans for Fitness

Okay, so on Friday evening I went to my friend MangyCat's house. (I actually go there a lot cause she's so awesome!) I had dinner and we went to the Good Friday service at her church. That was really cool. We sang worship songs and had some scripture reading, but then we did something different. There were several stations set about the room for people to reflect on the death and Resurrection of Jesus in a more personal way. You could take communion, nail your name to a cross, read about the seven last phrases of Jesus, and an art room where you could draw or sculpt about what Jesus's death and Resurrection meant to yourself. It was very unique.

And your thinking, what does this have to do with fitness....

Well, I'm coming to that. After the service and after we got her kids in bed, we decided to watch 10th Kingdom together. (5 hours of a totally cool movie, with a guy named wolf...it really made me want a 'wolf' in my life...he was plain wonderful.) MangyCat ended up going to bed, then after the movie, about 2:30 a.m., I went to sleep on the foot-on.

In the morning, MangyCat took me to 24 Hour Fitness. It was a day that members could bring a friend for free. She's a member and I was the friend. So we did a half hour on the elliptical, then we swam some laps, and lastly sat in the hot tub for a few minutes. Then we showered and went home. But before we left, I talked to one of the employees at 24 and I got myself a membership!

Yahoo!

It was $30 cheaper then if I had gotten the membership any other day, there was a deal going on only Sat, and I am so glad I got it! Now I can work out with more enthusiasm, and with a lot more equipment. I can swim (which I adore!), run, lift weights, shoot hoops, and much more. And the people there are so nice and encouraging. I'm very grateful that God provided the finances for me to be better about taking care of myself.

On a side note, Kale is 100% better. Yippee! Thank you for your prayers!

Kale and the Vet...*tear*

Okay, so Kale is a wonderful beautiful cat. I love her dearly and she knows I'm her mother. But she has an upper respiratory problem. She's constantly sneezing and she won't eat. We got her on Friday and she hasn't taken a single bite of food since then. She's had to have three IV's and she is on two different medications. She has diharia. She might have to go the the vet again tomorrow. I need to sit her in the bathroom and turn the shower on really hot to make a heat room so that the congestion in her nose will clear up a bit. I need to do it at least three times a day. We also have to force feed her with baby food. We use a syringe and push the food into her mouth.

*sigh*

She just has a lot of health problems. Thankfully when we took her to the vet the first time he tested her for all types of things like cancer, epilepsy, liver and kidney problems. Everything is fine. She doesn't have cancer or anything else. It's just he stupid respiratory problem. If we can't get her to eat soon she might, over time, die.

Please be in prayer for her. I really don't want her to die, and I don't want to give her away. I just got her and she's the perfect pet for me. She's so loving and she adores being with me. Please pray that she'll get better and that she's eat. Please that she'll eat! Please! *tear*

Meet Kale

Now it's time to meet my new pet. Kale Izzy Selk. She is 4 years old. She is totally adorable! Mom and I decided to go today to look at the cats. We had already done some browsing online yesterday, so we had an idea as to what we were looking for. When Mom, my little sister and I went into to viewing room and 'Izzy' (as she was called at the Humane Society) was brought out, she instantly came to us and let us pet her. Then she curled up in my lap and pushed her head into my chin. I knew at once that this was the cat for us!

I praise the Lord for this whole circumstance! Mom and I have made a deal. Mom will pay for Kale and all her vet bills and food and cat liter while I'm living at home. When I move out, I'll be taking Kale with me and then I'll take control of all the financially stuff. My job is to take care of Kale. Feed her, change her cat litter, and give her plenty of attention. ;) That's the best part!

And don't worry, my fish Scooby-Doo is doing well. He loves his tank and I haven't had any trouble with him. And Kale doesn't know he exists, so he's safe.

3, 2, 1, Action!

Okay, I don't know how many times I've said that phrase these past two days. Filming for my brother's movie has gone underway and actually flowed pretty smoothly. The weather has been good, and we've filmed more then we thought we were able to get done.

My cousin Emily came over from Idaho and is playing a really important character. All of our Pastors are involved, and several friends. We so far haven't hit any major road blocks or even small ones.

We are using real weapons, and thankfully no one has gotten hurt, at least from the weapons. On of our friends landed on some cactus and had little needles all over his hand. Each one of us had small cuts, bruises, scrapes and blisters from climbing all over Palmer Park and falling and punching and throwing...basically a lot of physical stuff.

The thing is, we still have at least nine more days...most likely more...of just filming. Then comes the part where we put it together scene by scene, add music, put extras in order and in a proper menu, etc.

We've had a few power struggles. Basically because it's my brothers movie, yet he's asked for my help, only some times he wouldn't accept it. But that's straightened out, so the rest of the filming should move more smoothly.

Just pray for me. I've gotten really stressed because I'm still working, still going to school, still doing chores, and several other extra things for other people, and I'm helping with my brother's movie. *large sigh!* I've cried several times in past two days because I'm over-whelmed...big time!

But the movie should be over soon...

Things Happening & Things Happened

Oh man! A whole month has gone by and I haven't posted a single thing! Now, I can kick myself for not being dedicated to this blog, or I can jump for joy because I haven't been spending so much time on the computer and spending time doing other things, more productive things. And that is the reason I haven't been in the land of cyber space very often.

*Large Sigh*

A lot has been happening in the life of Legolas.

The last week of January I began a watercolor class at the Bemis School of Art, Thanks to Mrs. Paul pushing me into it. ;) So I've been learning a lot and stunning people with my paintings even though this is the first time in any type of watercolor class.

Well, one of the other lady's taking the class owns an art gallery in Manitou. She really thought I had potential in the art field but she jumped with excitement when she saw a picture of an angel that I had painted in one of the classes.

She grabbed me by the shoulders and said, "You have to give me that picture and put it in my gallery!"

I must say that I thought she was over-reacting or was just being silly, but no. She was adamantly serious. So I've thought of the prospect of me selling my pictures through her gallery for many nights. Mom and I discussed a lot of things and we went to Manitou and saw her gallery. Mom was comfortable. I was comfortable.

Ever since then, I've been painting nothing but angels. I've made the backgrounds better and fiddled around with their positions, and each time I make a new painting, its better then the first. And everyone loves them.

Of course, to get the pieces ready for the gallery, I have to mat and frame them. Thanks to God the frames and mats were on sale this week. So now they're ready for me to bring them to the art gallery.

My hope is that all this work in getting the pictures made and presentable will not be for nothing. I know that might sound greedy, but the only way an artist can make more paintings is if the first ones are bought. And that only happens if people like them.

If you want to visit the gallery, here's the address.

Fare Bella Studio and Gallery
16 Ruxton Ave.
Manitou Springs (Manitou Springs/Ute Pass) CO 80829
(720)-226-4315

Many other things have been going on, this past month.

I finally gave mom and dad the last payment for my car! It's now officially mine! :)

Some of you may know, but I'm striving to lose weight. So I'm to exercise more, eat less junk food and more health food. Please pray for me in this area, because it is hard to lose weight when one likes to eat. My goal is to get to 150 this year. At least to 150, then I can go lower in number after I've reached that digit.

One thing that is giving me some stimulation is that I really want to dye my hair. (Bleached with blue streaks.) And I've told myself that I can't do that until I've reached 150 lbs. And I want my hair dyed like that for the summer, so I really want to lose weight before summer time. *crosses fingers* Please!

Meet Scooby Doo!

Okay, so the little computer dragon eggs didn't get enough clicks and they died. But I've brought a live creature into my life instead of a computer one. I would have preferred a dog or cat, but at the moment I can't afford one. So I found Scooby Doo.

He's a Delta Tail Betta. I named him Scooby Doo because his color is very much like Scooby's collar. And I always name pets with names that can't be used for people. So, If I ever had children I wouldn't be able to name a son Scooby Doo. Thus it is a name fit for a pet. Scooby will be the first of many pets that I hope to own in my lifetime.

When I get a dog, on that day in the future, I'll name him Xanatos. And Joker will be my first cat's name. My next Betta will probably be Darth Vadar. And, if I ever got one *please!*, if I ever adopted a bat his name would be Bruce. As in 'Bruce Wayne' a.k.a Batman.

But right now, I'm really happy that Scooby Doo is in my life. It just makes me smile when I think that I can come home and look into his little bowl and see him swim around. I thank God for giving me the ability to buy him. I just hope he lives long.

What are those?

So you might be wondering, what are those little circles above my picture? They are dragon eggs. I rescued them from there abandoning mother and I'm taking care of them. You can click on them to see a little bit more of there info. And I think when you click on them it helps them to hatch. So I hopefully will be the mother of several dragons.

Struck Dumb

When ever people hear that phrase one usually pictures either someone afraid to speak or someone blown away by the words of a person wiser then themselves. Or there's the third option. Picturing someone striking a dumb person, but that's mean.

but some people miss use the words. They use it when someone is silent to there verbal abuse. Like this, "You know what, your just a weekling." Silence. "What's the matter, you struck dumb?" (not nice!) I've actually heard people being verbally abused and when they make no contact, instead of the usual 'cat caught your tongue' it's 'what, you struck dumb' which hurts more then the first.

So, what should the people who are 'struck dumb' do? Should they make a snappy someback? Should they walk away? There isn't really a good answer to these questions. Everything depends on the previous circumstances and the background of the bully and the victum. But the reality is that these situations are going on all arround us. Not just in junior high or high school. In colleges and the work place. Because those bullies don't grow out of being bullies. And the victums will still carry their shame.

Few get out of this rift into a different confidence and life stile. But the majority remain the same. That is one of the huge problems with our day and age. All the kids that grew up in there little rifts that their parents didn't get them out of are now the adults of today and of corse they aren't going to teach the right things to there kids.

All I can say in conclusion is this, Lord, I'm waiting for the day you will come back to earth and tack us to be with you. Please let that day be soon. For the world is no longer lovely to my eyes.

Falling Inside The Black - Skillet

There are always areas of life that you are grateful you have climbed out of. In high school I got into black...a lot! I'm still a bit into it. But then I was depress. Now I'm joyful. But I heard this song on YouTube by Skillet. It greatly reminded me of where I was then. And I'm actually glad I got out it.

Music and what it does

What is it about certain books or movies (let's through music in that barrel as well) influence us to such a great degree?

Today I set out on a quest to clean my room. The best thing to do while cleaning is to listen to music. It's even better when my family was gone all day so I could blare it as loud as I want. ;) But today I chose to listen to the Narnia Soundtrack's. (I prefer Prince Caspian's music of the two.)

So the whole afternoon I was listening to Narnia while I re-organized and cleaned my room. But that whole time, I felt like I didn't belong in the room I was cleaning. Don't worry, I did get the job done. But It didn't feel like my room. Or that I was supposed to be wearing a Bronco jersey and jeans with holes in them.

I felt like I was supposed to have a sword by my side and getting ready to charge into battle. But I'm a sword short, and the battle is no where.

I felt a little distressed. I ended up looking at the ceiling (I pictured looking at the heavens) and asked God, Why was I born in this time period? I started thinking of all the people who have no want, desire or even the knowledge of valor, honor, sacrifice, even patriotism is going down the tubes.

In college on Thur. one of the girls in my class was listening to what I wanted to do for my assignment. I was saying that I'd like to draw a picture that would recognise fire fighters and what they do for us.

And she said that I'm too patriotic.

At first I didn't know what to say. Then I asked her, what's wrong with being patriotic?

I didn't get any answer.

All this to say...(man I went down a rabbit trail...I think)...Especially today, music makes me feel like I belong in that place and time. Not this. Is that because those stories have valor, honor, sacrifice and the physical fight against good and evil? And at this day and age those qualities have no more meaning?

A New Day, A New Month

I want to continue that phrase with 'A New Year'...but I can't cause that isn't the case. Today my voice is totally gone. I'm just getting over a cold, so it's probably just part of the aftermath. I'm glad it is November. Thanksgiving is just around the corner.

One should ask, what is Thanksgiving for? Some would give one word answers, 'Football', 'Food', 'Family'. (why do they all start with F?) But Thanksgiving is more. I know, a lot of you might roll your eyes and think, 'I've heard this type of thing over and over again! Why should I continue reading?'.

Well, I say Thanksgiving is an opportunity to tell others about what really happened in history. How the settlers were friends with the Indians and they were celebrating the fact that they had learned how to grow crops and that they lived through a hard year in the new world. It's not just about giving thanks, it's about remembering history.

And it's knowing that we will someday be in history. And what will our story be? Will we be known as a serial killer? Or a world famous actor? Or will people in our community remember us as godly men and women?

Think about it.

Lion picture; posting it because I can

I feel like posting a picture...

...So I did!

I found this photo off the internet. Doesn't he look happy? I like looking for all kinds of pictures of animals and landscapes to possibly draw or paint some day. I have thousands of photo's on my GIG stick. So I thought, that I might as well share them.