Dang that Mother Nature for her persistence! At the wee hour of 6:00 AM on Friday, John and I scrambled a very different direction than the day that we each had intended.
Original plan=
John to drive to Long Island with a 250 lb crystal in my car to deliver to Aurora minerals for them to ship to the Denver and if not sold there Tucson gem and mineral shows.
Chris to join the caravan that was driving our lama to visit with her lama in a remote destination.
Well. Subject to impermanence - plans changed. And how.
I drove to Long island at a fever pitch (not really, I just wanted to include fever pitch in today's post - Go Figure.) I casually strolled up I-95, finding myself engrossed in CNN on Sirius as they recapped Obama, tried to sleuth out McCain's veep choice, and gave the constant whereabouts of that tropical booger Gustav.
~~~Seriously McCain - you chose Palin? -- Oy we'll save that post for another day~~~
I drove through alternating rain and sunshine and arrived in Freeport along about 1:30 or 2:00 in the afternoon, dropped off the big rock - and retreated south again. I waved overhead as planes flew by because I know that my dad and stepmom were up there somewhere at some point in the day flying from New Jersey to Myrtle Beach for Labor Day weekend.
I stopped off in Baltimore as I came back through and had dinner with my dear friend E.J. - who is deserving of an entire post about her catalytic effect on my life. But tonight my fingers are objecting to that long of a post.
Returning late last night and beating John home from his reunion with college roommate and friend Jonathan, I was in bed at about midnight. John was celebrating the birthday of said former roommate which occurred earlier this week. Oh yeah, so happy b-day Jonathan (and Emma - his twin sis.)
John and I got up early this AM (okay EARLY FOR US - 10:00) and walked the Tara's Babies rescue dogs, fed them - went to Kentlands for some YUMMY NOODLES - then--I went back to bed.
More job hunting to ensue this week - I found a great staffing agency and love the lady working with me. I have had two nibbles but no bites on interviews through them. Keep your fingers inter-laced or crossed for happy job prospects this week.
Quick funny story (kinda funny). I got the interview with the staffing agency on Monday and so we scheduled it for Tuesday. I realized I had only one suit (since in AZ nobody wear suits.) So while on an errand in Quince Orchard I happened to be on the phone with Dara (returning from her Connecticut trip) and she recommended a consignment shop to find a suit.
Figuring it was all I could afford, I decided to drive there while I was out and about. I assumed there would be nothing that great - but maybe something that would suffice.
I kid you not, they had a pristine Brooks Brothers pin striped grayish/mocha suit that was practically TAILORED to fit me. It is gorgeous, and I got it for $30. And hey - I looked alright it in for my interview. Polished, professional, and dang if the little plastic thingy wasn't still hanging off of it from the price tag. Fret not - I found it B-4 the interview! : )
Yay DARA for killer advice.
Okay don't even know that I finished my thoughts here or arranged them logically - but time is up so, pencils down and pass your essays forward!
G'night....
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Home Suite Home
Things are sun shinier in Bowdawg's cloudy little mind. We overcame the homeless obstacle yesterday. Sometimes things just relax when a looming issue... dissipates.
SO now we must get our selves moved and settled. And some author of this post who shall remain nameless needs to get a J-O-B.
I am even on craigslist replying to one day labor gigs and what-have-you to get some cash flowing!
John's prior freak out (yes I am projecting, so let me...) was much reduced when A) the fine angelic folks at Wells Fargo processed the vet check rather than return it and B) Gap handed him his paycheck.
Ain't it a crime how much money rules our perception of stability? I mean - as my waist line will confess, I have clearly not lacked for food during this period. KT, Dara, Ani Palmo - all of the folks around us have been kindly placing plates of delicious comfort food in front of us at every turn. And the dogs are eating fine. And the cars keep oddly gassing them selves up a notch or two (seriously - my car rose 1/4 of a tank the other day while John was praying to not be lost in DC any more.)
And the property manager is being really casual about deposits and what have you.
I was forward-thinking enough to plan my paternal loan repayments to begin in October so as not to feel that dread looming over me all month while I job hunt... and birds are chirping and bees are buzzing and blah, blah, blah.
So WHY does our life feel so different when that bank balance dip-baby-dips?? (perhaps you all manage your finances better and do not go through this. But I bet you have a trigger... feel free to share with the class!)
I cannot explain. I keep contemplating on people who have NOTHING on a daily basis, and then I feel like a whore for even whining that getting my pet care is SOOOOO challenging. This is a sad reality that I am wailing about my companion animal's medical expenses when some people cannot have their children or themselvesoffered even the lowest level of care.
So perspective is everything in this life an especially on this path.
Stability will return. Normality is on the way. And when that happens how much more I look forward to sending out my favorite checks -- DONATIONS! Doctors without Borders, The Humane Society, Project Smile, Tara's Babies, and the Prayer Vigil... I will not abandon you!!
SO now we must get our selves moved and settled. And some author of this post who shall remain nameless needs to get a J-O-B.
I am even on craigslist replying to one day labor gigs and what-have-you to get some cash flowing!
John's prior freak out (yes I am projecting, so let me...) was much reduced when A) the fine angelic folks at Wells Fargo processed the vet check rather than return it and B) Gap handed him his paycheck.
Ain't it a crime how much money rules our perception of stability? I mean - as my waist line will confess, I have clearly not lacked for food during this period. KT, Dara, Ani Palmo - all of the folks around us have been kindly placing plates of delicious comfort food in front of us at every turn. And the dogs are eating fine. And the cars keep oddly gassing them selves up a notch or two (seriously - my car rose 1/4 of a tank the other day while John was praying to not be lost in DC any more.)
And the property manager is being really casual about deposits and what have you.
I was forward-thinking enough to plan my paternal loan repayments to begin in October so as not to feel that dread looming over me all month while I job hunt... and birds are chirping and bees are buzzing and blah, blah, blah.
So WHY does our life feel so different when that bank balance dip-baby-dips?? (perhaps you all manage your finances better and do not go through this. But I bet you have a trigger... feel free to share with the class!)
I cannot explain. I keep contemplating on people who have NOTHING on a daily basis, and then I feel like a whore for even whining that getting my pet care is SOOOOO challenging. This is a sad reality that I am wailing about my companion animal's medical expenses when some people cannot have their children or themselvesoffered even the lowest level of care.
So perspective is everything in this life an especially on this path.
Stability will return. Normality is on the way. And when that happens how much more I look forward to sending out my favorite checks -- DONATIONS! Doctors without Borders, The Humane Society, Project Smile, Tara's Babies, and the Prayer Vigil... I will not abandon you!!
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Self Esteem in A Material World
I wonder if I have ever felt such a complex range of self confidence and self loathing.
Lemme 'splain...
Our decision to move to Maryland, no matter how convoluted in the process, was a spiritual decision. Of course, if you really think about it - your decision to eat raisin bran, a bagel or whatever you had for breakfast was a spiritual decision. Because you are truly a manifestation of spirit (what I as a Buddhist would refer to as consciousness) that pulled a bunch of atoms and molecules together, and gave birth to "YOU" - in ways I cannot explain because I did poorly in science. But the Tibetans understand it VERY succinctly.
Anyhoo -- yes at the heart of the matter was GOOD INTENTION as a practitioner.
But below that percussive humming of rah rah Buddhist boy was... don, don, dooooooonnnnn (picture the dramatic prairie dog) a VERY large and ever growing material motivation.
I was ready for NEW home, NEW life, NEW job, NEW freedom, NEW e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g...
I had bought the whole starting anew dream HOOK, LINE, SINKER.
Then reality dawned. Lemme 'splain some more.
ISSUES:
1) We could not leave Sedona for 4 extra days. Reasons were many and frustrating. This cost time... money... attitude and most of all... small doses of enthusiasm.
2) Turns out the living arrangement was not quite what we thought it was gonna be. We were mistaken in our ability to "land" a home upon arrival on this end. So we got a storage unit - and returned the truck a day late. (Because someone who shall remain nameless unless you say BOWDAWG didn't read the contract very well.)
3) We could not get from paycheck in AZ to first paycheck from MD on the finite budget we had carefully planned for the transition. Even with generous up front loans of honorable fathers and brothers of ours (calculated to the T for minimum creation of debt. (Because of issues mentioned in 1 and 2 above.)
4) Our beloved youngest dog, Ms. Joy Beagle, had a bizarre eye thing that presented like glaucoma start occurring over the weekend which required a trip to the emergency vet Saturday for 4 hours. $606 later we ourselves experienced Joy's ouch... because of issue #3 [Thank goodness for onsite Nun and Vet Ani Pema who is helping us with the prognostic care.)
5) In our naivety that this financial crisis was finished upon leaving the vet... John wrote a check to them figuring at least because he transferred through the company he already worked for and accrued vacation pay en route - his direct deposit on Wednesday would cover this puppy repair. OOPS. Wrong again. (See #6)
6) The new store or the old store goofed some paperwork and the direct deposit did not deposit so directly. Paper check on Friday will be issued. Ouch. Can you say insufficient fund for Joy's little trip to thermometer up the bum lane!? *SIGH*
So all things said and done we are two goof balls who are excited about where we have moved even though we are now paralyzed and a little bitchy to one another caused by seemingly external events like fear and bad money karma (again).
Fear not though. Some fun stories did occur during all this time. I will write about them too I hope. But since this is the issue keeping me up tonight. This is what you get to read. At least I spared you the in depth disgust as I gagged down Ramen noodles which I had SWORN myself off of after college! ICK!!
I have zero confidence right now and simultaneously I feel like I am on top of the world. Yeah, those men in white suits will be picking me up REAL soon!
Oh. One fun note: John's niece Avery, who I finally met Sunday morning, was soooo adorable. Q-tist thing EVER seeing John with her! Oy vay. Reminds me of my own niece Shannon when she was almost 2. Unka Kiss they always call me. *MELT*
Okay. Done venting about my crappy cash karma. The biggest treat of the weekend and relocation so far: JETSUNMA TAUGHT LIVE FROM THE THRONE. And I could see her... in the room. With me. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Happy Dance ~~~~~~~~
'Nuff Said.
BTW. Joy wants to start blogging again now that she has had such an adventurous journey cross country. That will be cheery subject matter!!
Monday, August 11, 2008
Grass is Always Greener
To say that my dogs are LOVING Maryland would seem like a gross understatement. Sarah just bounds across lawns like she is a puppy - and being a nearly 9 year old Basset Hound, it is a comical sight at the very least!
Joy is just amazed by all the new sights and smells of the east coast. (I know... I make it sound so exotic, when it really is simply the same country they have always been in!)
But we have been blessed with gorgeous, cool and crisp autumn weather -- John and I feel like we have come home from a decade on desert retreat to a lush, green paradise. So... obviously neither of us has begun commuting yet ! : ) He begins work at Tyson's Corner Gap on the 16th.
We have been set up a great little rustic studio at the temple to wait for our September 1st Townhouse to come available. Since the studio is where they have all the garage sale items, we have quickly perused and located little amenities to the setup. Our Sarah just LOVES nuns so she is thrilled every time we walk out the door and she shes the maroon and gold rustling of a nearby Ani. Must be here memory of living with Jetsunma before she came to our home - there are always nuns bestowing affection upon the animals at the lamas house!
We shall be living in the heart of Poolesville by September which is a bonus. We were thinking we would be out in Rockville or at least Germantown.
Poolesville, besides being in such close proximity to the temple, is beautiful horse country. Stretches of highway run beside farms and former Polo grounds and there is SO MUCH GREEN everywhere. It is a stark contrast to the beautiful but ARID surroundings of our Arizona home.
So --- the move was an adventure. We planned to leave Sedona on Thursday the 31st. We actually did not hit the road until Sunday the 3rd at 10:00 pm.
To say we had clutter to clear would be a VAST understatement. Although a fair amount of our belongings had been weeded out over the years (we fit our whole life, lock stock and barrel onto half of a 16 foot Penske truck) -- we had a housemate that we could not, in any good conscience, leave in the lurch.
Consequently, every corner we turned held new and exciting piles of "stuff" to go through. Organizing took time, and hauling took TIME and MUSCLE (which Rabden hired en masse.)
The cleaning took some serious elbow grease. Ani Atara was a power house in the common areas. We all divied up the rest of the house. John grabbed a few day laborers to restore the yard and exterior to the prostine look of the home we had moved into. But all-in-all I REFUSE to ever let my living circumstances get that out of control again. Let's hope I can live up to that promise!
The dogs really acclimated to hotel life. Every night we would stop somewhere (Holbrook, AZ / Amarillo, TX / Joplin, MO / Indianapolis, IN / and Rockville, MD for 2 nights) and check in to a pet friendly hotel. The girls would settle onto their bed which we brough along... sniff out every corner of the room, then settle in to whatever TV program we were falling asleep to. On our lazier nights, we bought them hamburgers from Waffle House rather than prepare their usual meals of Tuna and Rice (an easy meal while traveling!) They impressed me with their adaptability and good behavior in all these strange locations! They were a little more protective of the car, so there were barky stops along the way!!
Our place in Poolesville is pretty old. It is a two story townhouse with four bedrooms, 2 and a half baths, a fair sized common area (kitchen and living room) a quaint little patio fenced in out back and a stacked washer dryer. It will need a silkwood shower to restore it to liveable (currently shared by 3 post collegiate guys -- some of whom have cleaning habits that matched mine until recent epiphany!
And we will have two additional roommates. A HUGE Boa constrictor and a little birdie. They belong to somebody who will contribute to the rent and pop in once a week or so to check on them. YAY subsidized living!! : )
Anyway - we have a "to do" list that is a mile long, but I wanted to update here in case enquiring minds wanted to know!!
New contact info will be sent out soon via e-mail. Let me know if you want it but don't have me as an e-mail contact yet!
All my best.
Bow-2-the-Dawg
Joy is just amazed by all the new sights and smells of the east coast. (I know... I make it sound so exotic, when it really is simply the same country they have always been in!)
But we have been blessed with gorgeous, cool and crisp autumn weather -- John and I feel like we have come home from a decade on desert retreat to a lush, green paradise. So... obviously neither of us has begun commuting yet ! : ) He begins work at Tyson's Corner Gap on the 16th.
We have been set up a great little rustic studio at the temple to wait for our September 1st Townhouse to come available. Since the studio is where they have all the garage sale items, we have quickly perused and located little amenities to the setup. Our Sarah just LOVES nuns so she is thrilled every time we walk out the door and she shes the maroon and gold rustling of a nearby Ani. Must be here memory of living with Jetsunma before she came to our home - there are always nuns bestowing affection upon the animals at the lamas house!
We shall be living in the heart of Poolesville by September which is a bonus. We were thinking we would be out in Rockville or at least Germantown.
Poolesville, besides being in such close proximity to the temple, is beautiful horse country. Stretches of highway run beside farms and former Polo grounds and there is SO MUCH GREEN everywhere. It is a stark contrast to the beautiful but ARID surroundings of our Arizona home.
So --- the move was an adventure. We planned to leave Sedona on Thursday the 31st. We actually did not hit the road until Sunday the 3rd at 10:00 pm.
To say we had clutter to clear would be a VAST understatement. Although a fair amount of our belongings had been weeded out over the years (we fit our whole life, lock stock and barrel onto half of a 16 foot Penske truck) -- we had a housemate that we could not, in any good conscience, leave in the lurch.
Consequently, every corner we turned held new and exciting piles of "stuff" to go through. Organizing took time, and hauling took TIME and MUSCLE (which Rabden hired en masse.)
The cleaning took some serious elbow grease. Ani Atara was a power house in the common areas. We all divied up the rest of the house. John grabbed a few day laborers to restore the yard and exterior to the prostine look of the home we had moved into. But all-in-all I REFUSE to ever let my living circumstances get that out of control again. Let's hope I can live up to that promise!
The dogs really acclimated to hotel life. Every night we would stop somewhere (Holbrook, AZ / Amarillo, TX / Joplin, MO / Indianapolis, IN / and Rockville, MD for 2 nights) and check in to a pet friendly hotel. The girls would settle onto their bed which we brough along... sniff out every corner of the room, then settle in to whatever TV program we were falling asleep to. On our lazier nights, we bought them hamburgers from Waffle House rather than prepare their usual meals of Tuna and Rice (an easy meal while traveling!) They impressed me with their adaptability and good behavior in all these strange locations! They were a little more protective of the car, so there were barky stops along the way!!
Our place in Poolesville is pretty old. It is a two story townhouse with four bedrooms, 2 and a half baths, a fair sized common area (kitchen and living room) a quaint little patio fenced in out back and a stacked washer dryer. It will need a silkwood shower to restore it to liveable (currently shared by 3 post collegiate guys -- some of whom have cleaning habits that matched mine until recent epiphany!
And we will have two additional roommates. A HUGE Boa constrictor and a little birdie. They belong to somebody who will contribute to the rent and pop in once a week or so to check on them. YAY subsidized living!! : )
Anyway - we have a "to do" list that is a mile long, but I wanted to update here in case enquiring minds wanted to know!!
New contact info will be sent out soon via e-mail. Let me know if you want it but don't have me as an e-mail contact yet!
All my best.
Bow-2-the-Dawg
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