LeighMo's bit of heaven (or hell)

First, borrowed from ETW (because stealing is just rude ;0)


1. What is your current obsession? Making money. I'm six kinds of broke.

2.Which item of clothing do you wear often? flip flops. If it is warmer than 60, my tootsies can't stand having socks/shoes on.

3.What's for dinner? Last night was Pizza Hut, and frankly I'm not much in a dinner mood today. I'm thinking I'll skip food tonight.

4.What are you listening to? The basement cat howling for attention again. Poor dear.

5.Say something to the one that tagged you. ETW...you rock. 'Nuff said.

6.Favorite vacation spot? Anywhere with lots of nature to take in, and photograph.

7. What I'm reading right now? I'm STILL working on the first Twilight book.

8. Four words to describe myself. Honest, passionate, compassionate, doubtful

9.Guilty pleasure. smokes. I know. Bad me.

10. What do you think you will feel about your life when all is said and done?
It was one heck of a ride, that will be fo sho.

11. What do you look forward to? Going to bed. I seriously need a recharge.

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Next on the to-blog-about list....I have a conundrum. Or, I am turning a non-issue into one, as I am apt to do on occasion. In this land of coffee, drive through espresso stands and chains and whatnot, there is a new trend....Sexespresso. Which means the baristas are scantily clad or wearing costumes that most men dream about...school girls, cheerleaders, or a g string and pasty combination. I too was mortified (turn the art that is coffee making into a T and A peepshow? Ach.)

They make $300 a day in tips. Plus the $10 an hour. Lets add that up, shall we? For an average 32 hour a week part time job, that is $320 in wages, plus $1200 in tips. Yikes. And they don't hook or anything, just flirt and look hot. Maybe it isn't so....bad....after all?

However, one must naturally 'look' the part. And lets face it...I've never had the kind of body that gets fantasized over. And wearing stuff that amounts to lingerie around strangers....I don't know if I could do that. I'm kind of private, in that regard. Unless I'm drunk, in which case I shouldn't operate a can opener let alone a steamer machine and cash register.

But there is a chain that is hiring 'fantasy' baristas. With a long list of approved costumes, some of which I could actually see myself wearing in public.
http://fantasiawear.com/ImagesCostumes/d4041-schoolgirl.jpg

So, the question is, do I attempt to apply for this, with my less than busty physique, and attempt to flirt my way to $1200 a week in tips, or take the high road?

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My laptop died, and Nate has graciously hauled over his desktop for me to use. 32 hours without internet access and I liked to have hibernated in my crypt. I think he brought it over more for me to stay in contact with people than anything else; and I appreciate it, because one can only talk to the spiders for so long before they move on to bigger and better things.

I am going a little crazy with Photoshop these days. Here are some of last night's time killing session:


I'm getting better at just plain retouching. The original was actually a pretty good shot of me (something I NEVER say), but I wanted to take out all the background and add just a touch of blur. Original:



Edited:

This is an old friend of mine, with a zombie added plus the background I found. Lots of editing, erasing, and layering but I think it turned out pretty good.




These were not mere exercises in time wasting; nope, they are going in my portfolio under 'photo editing skills'. There are a few photographers in the area who hire freelancers with mad retouch skills; I am hoping to develop those so I can broaden my freelance from home horizons.

So, it seems that my newly found hobby is taking a backseat for the moment. Oh, there is plenty to photograph; I have plenty of time yet to wander aimlessly, snapping shots at will. I pulled the (new) girl out of her case the other day, and there was a big leafy looking thing in my viewfinder.

'Hon, what is this?' I asked the super duper techy dude I know.

'Your lcd screen is shot.' he says.

Well, crud.

I can take pictures, but no zoom. No adjusting the shutter speed, or the option to see if I have flash on/off/auto. I am not sure what happened. I charged it overnight, then carefully wrapped all cords and bound them with the twisty ties, before tucking her neatly into the padded and zippered case.

Kodak says since it is less than a year old, they will replace it, once I get the receipts, shipping order, and other paperwork from my mom and send it all to them. Within a few weeks I will have the replacement, but lo! The roses are going to burst any day here.

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I am searching out some new people to meet and hang out with on occasion. Other than Nate, I really don't know anyone in Seattle. One of the nicest things about him and our relationship is that he doesn't feel the need to know where I am every minute of the day, nor does he get a bee in his bonnet if I want to go do something in public without him. And I trust him enough to extend him the same attitude. I think he is feeling like I am pining away, lonely in my room, while he is working or during the week, which really isn't the case but he's a 'taker-care-of' as well. So I figured if I meet a few more people, get out and about a little more, he'll stop worrying and feeling guilty that he can't entertain me 24/7. Once his jeep is fixed (needed a new engine), I will have a 1988 chevy celebrity to drive around and that will help a little. I have no problem walking, but my feet need a few days off to heal from the blisters I seem to have given myself.

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I am working on a new portfolio page so I can get the freelancing thing here up and running. Last night I did some more photo edits; they turned out pretty good, and I made an image with brushes and about six layers. Once I know where the 'undo' button is, there is no stopping me ;0)

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I think the sun is coming out for a bit; maybe a quick jaunt up the street won't be so bad.

So, when I left Michigan on April 1, I undertook a life of travel, with the day to day living being as conducive to life on the road as possible.

Since that time, I have been mainly existing on fast food, the occasional 'side salad' (meaning: cheap ass green iceburg lettuce, carrot shreds, and under ripe tomatoes), and epic portions of family sit down chain restaurants, ranging from home cookin' to chinese.

Really, it wasn't too bad. I have never been one to have to meticulously watch calories, and Lord knows I'm walking enough to count as exercise.

But my tummy does not handle excessive grease well, nor does it like red meat much these days. So, I've been careful to order what I am fairly certain I can tolerate.

Yesterday it blew up in my face. Well, my colon actually.

Cinnamon French Toast. Sounds innocent enough, does it not? One of my favorites, regardless of the time of day. And it was a Sunday brunch outing, so I figured that would be okay; definitely better than say a 12 oz chunk of Black Angus, fried in its own grease.

The menu failed to mention that this was cinnamon TEXAS toast; three full slices of cinnamon texas toast bread, soaking up at least half a dozen eggs. Drenched in a coating of butter (not margarine or 'I can't believe its not butter', but good ole' American sweet cream, home churned butter. Plus, drowned in caramel sundae topping, finished with dollaps of whipped cream (the can kind, so it was pretty).

I nearly threw up then. I like my french toast with butter, and that is it. I don't want dessert for brunch; I am not much of a sugar person in the morning. I thought scraping the sauces and garnishments of Willy Wonka variety would suffice, but that darned toast bread sucked it up, I think.

The intestinal cramping began late last night. This morning, I simply hoped I would have a vomit session or three, and call it good. No such luck. I am feeling better now, although the water bill may be higher than normal, given all the flushing that was going on.

Once I had my inner sense of self restored to almost normal, I ventured out to pick up some groceries. I think for awhile, it will be salads, ground turkey, lots of water, and a few lean cuisine meals.

I will definitely pay more attention to descriptions, especially where my beloved french toast is concerned.

After two years of living in my own place, paid for by moi, and sharing a space with basically the male counterpart of myself, I can definitely say this renting a room thing is a completely different world.

I am in the basement. I have a private in/out door, with my own key. I venture upstairs to make coffee, use the facilities, or take a shower. Otherwise, I chill here. On the computer, or sleeping.

The housemates stay in their own quarters as well, but are friendly and helpful if we cross paths. They worry about me, because I don't eat. At least they never see me eat. I don't eat in front of people I don't know....its a hold over from the eating disorder days, I'm sure, but I am definitely taking in enough calories to offset the walking four miles a day I have been doing.

Its just weird, to look around this beautiful house (40's northwestern craftsman, recently painted and floors refinished) and feel as if I am more or less an intruder here. Yeah, I pay them money so I can call a corner home, but that is basically what I am.

Its comfortable. I have everything I need (shower, bed, coffee pot). There is a cat that lives in the basement who comes to see me, so when I need a snuggle I can get it. I come and go as I wish, without being watched, and I live in a rather centrally located part of the city.

Our goal is by June/July at the latest to find a place; Nate is living in his own roommate situation for now. He feels the way I do....its more good than bad, but its not his own space, which he is used to having. We figure by J/J, we'll have money saved up (each independently, we don't do the combine money thing), time on jobs, take care of some loose ends, etc.) I'm on the lookout now, scoping areas and seeing what is available in a certain area; I'm looking at three bedrooms, because I want to bring my kids out for a while this summer. I think they would get a kick out of the area.

I arrived around 9pm mountain time (a little late, we had to wait for some connectors. I guess there were delays in Chicago, and we were being thoughtful.) The flight was the longest I'd taken yet; nearly 2.5 hours, up along the rockies from Denver.

It was raining when I got here, and dark, so I didn't get a good look at anything, really. I spent my first day here sleeping, and today I finally got to venture out, walk about 30 blocks, and see this new place I intend to make my home.

This area, west-of-the-mountains Washington, is beautiful. In early April, the roses are leafed out and ready to bloom. Flowering shrubs have flowered; grass is thick, green, and already mowed. The sky is so clear (when it is sunny, as it has been for 2 days now). It is ethereal for me to be here; for so long I have wanted to at least visit, and more than once I tried to talk the ex into moving here.

I have yet to see downtown Tacoma, and should I figure out the rather insane bus schedule/routing system, I may get to do that. We may venture into Seattle this weekend, Nate and I, or we may hit some parks for some hiking.

I saw him yesterday for the first time in two weeks. It was the first moment in the same span of time that I felt alive again, and not just plodding along, going through the motions. We do that to each other, feed off the other's energy and vitality, which gets stronger the longer we are near each other. It is strange, to be around someone who exudes so much love, to feel nothing but trust and acceptance. His roommate situation is about fifteen minutes away from mine, which worked out quite nicely. The plan is by June or July, to be in a position where we can get a place together (unless the roommate thing drives one or both of us crazy.)

I like my roommates; a couple with a 14 months old little girl and another on the way; he installs direct tv and she entertains the peanut (as they call her). The other roomie is a guy in some sort of law enforcement program, but I've only seen him once. I hide out in the dungeon room, with my own private entrance/exit, and surface when I require a coffee refill or to use the facilities. I told them I'm not anti-social, I am just private, and I want to get working asap, which means I'll be on the computer or out hotfooting it most of the time. And they are cool with that.

So I am in an area I have always wanted to see, in an arrangement that is to the benefit of all involved, fifteen minutes away from the man I love. I talk to my kids every night (afternoon for me), and they are happy to be back 'home', seeing their grandparents and aunts/uncles, telling their friends of their spring break trek to New Mexico, then back. I won't lie, it is hard being away from them, but I'd rather they be where they are comfortable, with people who love them and can give their dad a hand if he needs it. I want to go see them next month, around my mother's birthday.

I know the rain will come eventually, but for the meantime I am enjoying this picturesque spring like weather, looking into all the possibilities that I can find, and keeping my eye open for the a place where Nate and I can be home together, again. Expect photos, once I get the camera unpacked.

For Christmas, my mother got me a replacement digital camera. My other one was awesome, free (my brother's fiance is a photographer, and she bought it but never used it so passed it on to me.), and met its demise when Jamie P. discovered there were no batteries in it, and he could not snap a shot or two of himself (he is a camera ham), and he chucked it down a long hallway where it smashed into the wall.

So, my new camera is a Kodak Easy share, 10mega pixel (I turned it down to 8 though), and with the SD card can hold about 1200 pictures.

I do not take good pictures of people. They are either blurry, out of focus, the lighting isn't right, whatev. I take pics of my kids to document their growth, remember activities, etc.

I seem to have a knack for nature photography. Along the way to New Mexico, I snapped some while the car was moving along at 60mph; they turned out phenomenal. I got some from the zoo, of animals, that are rather amazing.

I have taken roughly 1000 pictures along this journey; most are on my facebook. I have a deviant art account, and I've put a few up there that have received some rather humbling appreciation. Since I live to entertain and bring cheer wherever I can, I've uploaded some to photobucket to share with you:
















Enjoy!

There is a brand of Microwave Chinese food that I simply adore. Its called Tai Pei, and they sell it at the hegemony that is headquartered in Arkansas. Not only does this stuff taste GOOD, its filling (one carton does the trick), fairly cheap ($2.50 per carton), and it is reasonably healthy. Not high in fat, not high in sodium, packs some vitamin A and C, is fresh frozen (so no preservatives), and no Mono Sodium Glutamate (MSG...that crap tricks your brain into thinking stuff tastes good and shuts off the 'I'm full' sensor in the brain).

I'm eating one now, for lunch in my studio suite thingee, and it tastes absolutely fab. Doing Pepper Beef, but there are a variety of chicken (General Tsao's, Teriyaki, Orange, Spicy stuff) plus shrimp (I don't eat shrimp...its squishy.)

So, next time you are perusing the store of doom to stock up on snacks, look down the frozen ethnic food aisle and see what they have. If you or your kids dig Chinese food, they are great, filling, cheap, and good to have on hand.