When one door closes...

another one opens.

Have you ever had the feeling that your life was going to change whether you had anything to say about it or not? Several times in my life...things have gone into motion that I cannot stop, no matter how hard I try and believe me...I try to stop it. In the end the change happens no matter what you do and in the long run this whole change, even though it is not what you would have chosen at that moment...leads to you doing what you actually needed to do, but did not have the courage to do...or gets you out of a situation that was not healthy for you anyway.

I was let go from my full time position on Wednesday... and although it was unfair the way things went down....now I won't be working in a crappy office across town into the wee hours of the night designing for a backwards company...when I'd rather be designing for my own clients and doing my own thing. In the past several months...I've worked sitting at my desk at the office for as long as 38 hours straight several times. And it was not uncommon for me to be there till midnight several nights a week and work weekends.

I have to say I have done this kind of thing in the past when I freelanced and worked for other companies to get a big exciting creative project done and or  hit an especially tight deadline or to get myself all completely caught up on all projects so that I could have a fresh start...but I have been working like this for over a year and a half to just try to keep my head above water there. I would work all night and still be way behind on everything...because I was trying to do all design, marketing and website design and updating for 3 tv stations and 5 radio stations. My request for an assistant went on deaf ears.

I was let go because the boss thinks I am not getting enough done. I laughed in his face when he fired me because it was so ridiculous. (by the way...I've become friends with the last person that had that job...she was let go for the same reason, she said she felt sorry for me when I took her place...even though she should have been mad..because she knew what a terrible situation I was walking in to) Wait till my replacement finds out what is going on there. I now have my life back. I guess someone was looking out for me even though I had my nose to the grindstone and blinders on.

As the saying goes....

When one door closes...another one opens...

So first on the agenda is to do stuff for me...which I have put off for over two years...because I have been working so much. Of course it's scary...I don't know where the money will be coming in from for awhile. Not sure I want to jump into a corporate job again...actually..I know I don't. My wish is to do freelance design work and start painting again. 

This weekend, I'm going to try not to think too much. Then next week is the beginning of my start over...a chance to be happy and not slave away for someone who doesn't care about me. 

So now I'm looking towards a brighter tomorrow and thinking I might actually get to see some of this summer...unlike the last two. 

I feel like a huge weight has been lifted from my shoulders.

Thanks for listening...I needed to vent.

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The Girls and I Are Back

I took a little time away from the blog. I went to visit my life long friend, Pam in Memphis.

I snapped this photo of her sweet, sweet basset, Winifred or "Winnie" as she is called. I took Sally and Violet with me and left the boys with my Mom. Winnie insisted on sleeping with us every night. She really liked Sally. I was sort of excited to sleep in a bed on this vacation with only two dogs instead of my usual four...but it turned out I slept with almost more dogs because Winnie is big and she is a bed hog. She's so sweet though I was happy she joined us.

Winifred "Winnie" Walker

The photo is a little blurry. I don't know how a dog that moves so slow could be so hard to get a good photo of but she is. She kept moving when I tried to snap a photo.

I had a great time in Memphis. Pam and her family live in Germantown and it's so pretty there. All the tall trees everywhere reminded me that in Oklahoma we really only have big bushes. Not really...but that is what it seems like after I go visit somewhere else.

I had such a nice visit in Memphis and got to go to Anthropologie for the first time. They just got one in Germantown. Rumor is that we're getting one soon in OKC. I hope so.

It was so nice to get away but I missed the boys so bad, it was ridiculous. Tornadoes and hail storms came through while I was gone...reeking havoc. Yesterday, my house got hit with a hail storm that damaged my car beyond belief and most of my girlfriend's cars. Yes, none of us had the sense to get our cars into shelter in time. We collectively decided it was nothing to whine about as we were all ok and all our family and animals are ok. 

Ok, I'm back in the posting groove now.

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What a Weekend!

I had quite the weekend. I really spoiled myself all weekend and pretty much did whatever I wanted. It started Thursday night.

 

Elton John & Billy Joel

Face to Face Tour

I'd seen them before but they were even better this time. I'm a Billy Joel fan but have a new appreciation for Elton. I went with a group of friends and we started the evening with Thai food. The concert was sold out and ended with the whole place singing along to Piano Man. The best.

Then on Friday night, I saw

I was amazed by this film. I know it's been out for quite awhile but not here.  I was only now able to see it at the Oklahoma City Museum of Art. This film by first time director, Tom Ford is so beautiful. It's a must see if you get the chance. I'm sure it will be out on DVD very soon. I thought Jeff Bridges was a shoe in for Best Actor but after seeing Colin Firth in this...I think he should win. Even though I love me some Jeff Bridges and he deserves to win for the body of his work and Crazy Heart was good. But Colin's performance is so subtle. His face and actions speak volumes in such a restrained pitch perfect performance. 

After seeing this movie, I can't believe it wasn't nominated for Best Picture. I think it was my favorite this year.

Anyway, the images and music are so unbelievably beautiful. I came straight home and ordered the soundtrack off of Amazon.com.

This is the most gorgeous looking movie...I just can't say enough good things about it. I cried and I cried and cried. Then I liked it so much...I went to see it again on Saturday! I started crying even earlier because I knew what was going to happen.

Here are some of the images from the movie.

  

  

  

  

  

  

 

  

  

 Before seeing the movie a second time, my sister and I ate some sushi

 at Tokyo Japanese Restaurant. It was super good. 

Then on Sunday, I decided I better see Avatar in 3D / IMAX before "Alice in Wonderland" comes out and takes over that screen.

The 3D was really incredible. I thoroughly enjoyed the movie. Do I think its worth a Best Picture nod? Not really. The story was nothing unusual although it was entertaining. Although, you really knew what was going to happen pretty much. It truly was fantastic to look at. 

Then I did a little shopping and bought a pretty pink purse.

So that was my weekend...I got absolutely nothing done at the house. 

Next weekend starts with the John Mayer concert on Friday night.

Saturday, I've got to see

followed by a Birthday party where I'll see lots of old friends...then Sunday night another party to watch the Oscars

I'm so excited to watch Alec Baldwin mostly. I adore him. I love Steve Martin too...but Alec just makes me laugh and laugh and he's sooo cute. And the two of them together....I think it's going to be the best.

So that was my weekend and what's coming up. I have a teeny project to finish at the house to show...and didn't get it done. With all my running around. But it was nice to have a weekend that was nothing but fun. Looks like next weekend is going to be more of the same. And that's ok. Fun is allowed.

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The Ugly and Scary Truth about Light Bulbs!

The other night I made a trip to Walmart to get some light bulbs. I was shocked to find hardly any regular old light bulbs on the shelves. I did find some however.
I'm not switching to the new supposedly greener florescent bulbs. The light bulb has been around forever without changing all that much. It's a great design. People complain that they burn out too fast. Here's an idea.... make the metal inside a little heavier and they last much much longer. My Dad told me this one years ago..."they can make em last forever...they just don't....so we have to keep buying them". Seems simple to me.

Here's the ugly truth...the new florescent bulbs that are being pushed on us....are not good for the environment at all, actually they are going to cause much harm to the environment. Did you know they contain mercury and with millions of us using them and disposing of them....there will soon be high levels of mercury in our ground water? Everyone knows how dangerous mercury is.

I will admit....I bought one of the florescent bulbs...did not like the light it put out or the way it looked in the lamp I put it in and took it out immediately and did not buy another. Then one day, I'm reading Claudia's lovely blog The Paris Apartment and she starts posting about the harm florescent bulbs will do to the environment and how we are all being sold a bill of goods because some major corporations are making tons of money off the switch. We've all been hoodwinked.

These new florescent bulbs are not about being green at all...they are about making money for greedy corporations.

Claudia has taken the time to research the subject. Like me, originally she just didn't want to give up her old fashioned bulbs and she wanted to find a source to continue to buy them. She was horrified by what she soon learned.

Please go to Claudia's blog and learn the truth about incandescent versus florescent light bulbs.

Stopping at the Green Light

I'm doing all I can to spread the word about how harmful these new bulbs actually are.

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