My journey didn't begin a year ago when I started this Blog. It started over 20 years ago and has brought me here. Although I am 37(going on 38), the journey I speak of, is the one that lead me to this moment in my life. But to be honest I need to start at my earliest memories that lead me to the Present. So I will start with my earliest memories of childhood that helped shape who I've become and to what contributing factors they had on choosing my path.
I was born in September of 1973 in SoCal. I had an older sister and I want to assume my parents were happily married. I have vague recollections of my childhood except I remember I played t-ball when I was young. I remember Kindergarten and my teachers name was Mrs. Davis. I don't know when my dad left, I do know why, and I don't know exactly when he came back but it was around the time I was 5/6 yrs old. He stayed the longest this time bc my baby sister and I are 7 years apart and my parents divorced about 4 years later.
My early years with my parents are hard to recall because I don't remember too many great times or any times really. I remember them fighting when I had the chicken pox, I remember my dad and I arguing over the most asinine things. We had on two separate occasions, Japanese exchange students stay a summer with us and that was fun. I got a wire hanger stuck in my eye. Not the eyeball. But one minute it was stuck in my blanket, the next it was hanging out of my eye. I remember going to physical therapy sessions for my oldest sister bc she has CP on her left side. I split the back of my head on the way to one bc the one time my mom actually had to slam on her breaks, I fell back into the dashboard bc I was facing the backseat. Obviously not listening, not wearing my seatbelt and not sitting in the backseat like I'm sure I was supposed to. Didn't realize the seriousness of it til we got to the therapy place and the back of my head was bleeding. (that may explain a few things)
I remember our neighbors from the apartment we lived in before my sister was born. I remember playing in the yard and taking our laundry to the back where the machines were. Sleeping next to the wall heater some nights when I'd wake in the night. We moved to a house and I found new friends and had some lovely neighbors who became more than that. I found a sense of belonging that I hadn't felt before.
I was in the middle of my 7th grade year when my mom moved my sisters and I to my grandmothers place in the Monterey area. New school in the middle of February, different climate, different type of people and the belief it was temporary. Wasn't told my parents were getting divorced or that our dad wouldn't be seeing us that much (his choice) or that life as we knew it was changed forever.
Our family wasn't a very huggy, touchy feely or share emotions type of family. It was rare when it would happen and so rare I cant recall in my early years how many times I was held or told I was loved by an adult family memeber. Sad but true. ( try explaining this to someone who knew and was told often they are loved, they just don't get it)
I've got to honestly say being the middle child really sucked. My oldest sister, who is 4 years older than me, has CP like I mentioned earlier, and is not a typical older sister. Wasn't supportive and looked to much for approval that she wasn't really a good sister to me. My baby Sis is well, the Baby, so that in itself says it all. She was spoiled (yes I spoiled her also) she was given more freedoms than I ever had and I think was loved the most by both parents. I had to find a way to depend on me, look out for me and to figure out my place in a family that I felt I never belonged to. Feeling like a stranger in my own family. And to find a way to feel like I was loved, wanted and needed and that I belonged to someone somewhere....
So that is my beginning. The start of what has yet to come....
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Ha!
Ha! I just realized my longest post ever was about yet another Social Networking site. Well be prepared to be bombarded with my life next. I hope it doesn't bore the Heck out of you! I guess we'll see. :)
Here goes....
Here goes....
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Crazed addiction or way too social?
Ok, so now I have a new Social Network addiction. Exactly! Like I needed a new one right? Well this one is like Facebook and Twitter all rolled into one picture perfect package. (say that 5 times fast) My new Social Networking addiction is called Instagram(IG).
Instagram? you ask. Yes, it's an iPhone App that allows you to take photos and share them with perfect strangers or people you know. You can link it to Facebook and Twitter or a few other Blog type websites. It's a fun and easy way to share your interests, family, art, nature, culture or what ever wacky thing you feel like taking a photo of. It will give you a glimpse into the lives of strangers or friends that want to share their photos. At times I feel like I'm being intrusive but if it was too personal, would they share it? Nope, probably not. You can make your IG profile private and allow whom you want to 'follow' you. Again I feel like the word follow is creepy but what else could it be called? Followers or new found friends? It can feel like you're part of a family or community that can be thoughtful, informative, inquisitive and supportive.
Another reason I am so addicted to it is because I get to feel like I'm traveling to other Countries, Cities or States without ever having to leave my bed/couch/bathroom/car... Well you get the picture. To see Japan, a place I'd love to see someday, through the eyes of someone who lives there and what they enjoy about their Country is really amazing. I've 'seen' Australia, Thailand, New York, China, Italy, Texas, Brazil, San Francisco, Hawai'i, Canada, England, New England.... The list is endless and it's a bright and beautiful world we live in. And of course seeing the dark side of some Countries, Cities and States is part of it also. But I still marvel at the sights of place where a photo was taken or the food or people or culture. The world at my fingertips.
The people on IG are generally nice everyday people sharing their lives, culture, interests, Beliefs, humor, tragedy and personality. It's hard to describe but you kind of feel a kinship with some of the people there because of a shared experience or because you live near and see the same things they see or something new you've never noticed. But there are some who will over share or who become intrusive to the point of being rude or even stalkerish... And there will also be some that are just loopy for their pets and really? Who needs to see your cat sleeping every day? Or you're dog dressed in a tutu? I'm not saying they shouldn't take photos of what you like, I'm just saying I'm tired of seeing pets on the 'popular' page when the majority of the photos shown are of beautiful far off places, street scenery, Mother Nature in all her glory or everyday people.
The 'popular' page. The creme da la creme of the IG world. People strive to get on there as a validation I guess that their photos are better than someone elses? I don't know. Some get on it everyday because their 'followers' hope that they get recognized through a comment made or liking the photo. I don't know how you get on it and I don't think it's going to validate my photo of a snail that I took or a photo of my kids. It's not a popularity contest for some, for others it's their mission to get there. I've been a few times but was just surprised and humbled by the fact that a complete stranger liked my photo and took the time to look at it.
iPhonography... That is my brand of photography. I don't claim to be a professional but I do enjoy a good photo of a flower or my kids. I find it amazing that my phone can take such great photos and I can filter it and crop it to enhance any image. I don't know the first thing about photography but I do enjoy snapping pics of things that interest me or I find silly and funny. I'm not on IG for anything but fun. And a good chat with someone from another Country or State or City.
So, it's curbed my time on Twitter and I've been on Facebook but IG is running the show most days. I can't wait to see what fun and wonderful things await me each day. And yes sometimes all day or many hours... I need sleep and I forget to eat sometimes... I need help!!!
Say cheese!!! :)
Instagram? you ask. Yes, it's an iPhone App that allows you to take photos and share them with perfect strangers or people you know. You can link it to Facebook and Twitter or a few other Blog type websites. It's a fun and easy way to share your interests, family, art, nature, culture or what ever wacky thing you feel like taking a photo of. It will give you a glimpse into the lives of strangers or friends that want to share their photos. At times I feel like I'm being intrusive but if it was too personal, would they share it? Nope, probably not. You can make your IG profile private and allow whom you want to 'follow' you. Again I feel like the word follow is creepy but what else could it be called? Followers or new found friends? It can feel like you're part of a family or community that can be thoughtful, informative, inquisitive and supportive.
Another reason I am so addicted to it is because I get to feel like I'm traveling to other Countries, Cities or States without ever having to leave my bed/couch/bathroom/car... Well you get the picture. To see Japan, a place I'd love to see someday, through the eyes of someone who lives there and what they enjoy about their Country is really amazing. I've 'seen' Australia, Thailand, New York, China, Italy, Texas, Brazil, San Francisco, Hawai'i, Canada, England, New England.... The list is endless and it's a bright and beautiful world we live in. And of course seeing the dark side of some Countries, Cities and States is part of it also. But I still marvel at the sights of place where a photo was taken or the food or people or culture. The world at my fingertips.
The people on IG are generally nice everyday people sharing their lives, culture, interests, Beliefs, humor, tragedy and personality. It's hard to describe but you kind of feel a kinship with some of the people there because of a shared experience or because you live near and see the same things they see or something new you've never noticed. But there are some who will over share or who become intrusive to the point of being rude or even stalkerish... And there will also be some that are just loopy for their pets and really? Who needs to see your cat sleeping every day? Or you're dog dressed in a tutu? I'm not saying they shouldn't take photos of what you like, I'm just saying I'm tired of seeing pets on the 'popular' page when the majority of the photos shown are of beautiful far off places, street scenery, Mother Nature in all her glory or everyday people.
The 'popular' page. The creme da la creme of the IG world. People strive to get on there as a validation I guess that their photos are better than someone elses? I don't know. Some get on it everyday because their 'followers' hope that they get recognized through a comment made or liking the photo. I don't know how you get on it and I don't think it's going to validate my photo of a snail that I took or a photo of my kids. It's not a popularity contest for some, for others it's their mission to get there. I've been a few times but was just surprised and humbled by the fact that a complete stranger liked my photo and took the time to look at it.
iPhonography... That is my brand of photography. I don't claim to be a professional but I do enjoy a good photo of a flower or my kids. I find it amazing that my phone can take such great photos and I can filter it and crop it to enhance any image. I don't know the first thing about photography but I do enjoy snapping pics of things that interest me or I find silly and funny. I'm not on IG for anything but fun. And a good chat with someone from another Country or State or City.
So, it's curbed my time on Twitter and I've been on Facebook but IG is running the show most days. I can't wait to see what fun and wonderful things await me each day. And yes sometimes all day or many hours... I need sleep and I forget to eat sometimes... I need help!!!
Say cheese!!! :)
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