TT – A year in 13 events

January: Started new job at a call center. The working environment was a tad different than I was used to, let’s just say.

(snip)The over-riding priority of two women in the class seems to be how to calculate overtime pay. They must have spent quite a few hours either discussing it (both in class and on the floor with the other call center reps) as well as pulling out a calendar and checking what weeks were optimum for getting OT pay. This puzzles me immensely. (IOW, WTF???) While I was chastised by Duty for not accepting those with varying priorities than my own self, I still think it’s probably better to focus on what you need to learn in the class that will help you on the floor. Once you are sure that you can do the job and do it well, THEN worry about OT. Because if you suck, ain’t gonna be no OT no how, babygirl.(/snip)

February: A (god)mother loves with all her heart. I dedicated my Valentine’s Day post to the wonderous Goddaughter of Love, Lauren.

And so today, on this Valentine’s Day, I honor the amazing child I have been given to love in this lifetime. I thank Mother and Father God, all my angels, Archangel Michael, Archangel Raphael, Vy, Aradia and all my spirit guides for this gift. Oh yeah, and biggie ups to Cousin ‘O Love and her husband, without whom this child wouldn’t be here. I also honor them for having raised such a wonderful and loving woman.

March: Wrapped in a big bubble of love There are no words to describe this month. Just none.

‘Cause you’re everywhere to me
And when I close my eyes it’s you I see
You’re everything I know
That makes me believe
I’m not alone
I’m not alone

April: Relay for Life at UVA and a special speech in honor of my godchild. Here’s a snippet:

Lauren was a child born not of my body but of my soul. And it was through this special relationship that I learned how to love with all my heart.

Her inner light and joy, undaunted by this horrific disease, carried not only her through it but us as well. In her eyes, I saw the courage of all who battle cancer – facing an unknown future. And time and again, I stood in awe of it.

I believe we come into this world with special gifts – things that make us who we are. Lauren’s gift was to quietly inspire people to live what they believe. She “walked her talk” and was without pretension or mask. You just felt good around her.

May: Well, I contemplated life in a convent and decided that if it didn’t have wireless, it wasn’t gonna work for me:

And maybe I’ve idealized the life of contemplative prayer and study (I mean, no talking after 8pm??) but as I sit my ass on this here couch just a’bloggin away, it sure sounds alluring to me. (Oops, just realized that I would most assuredly NOT have wireless ‘net(s) access. That is enough to put the kibosh on it right there.) Plus, I am pretty sure that cleaning would be involved and y’all know I am just not into that (much to Duty’s 6 year chagrin-ment)

June: FREEDOM!! Woo Hoo! Thanks, Universe!

… but quite welcome (if you’re not Duty and prone to worrying about money and stuff). Current place of employ has laid off a few peeps and guess who is included in said layoff?? ME! Wheeee! They were nice and gave me two weeks pay and even paid for today which I get to spend on my butt at home! So, cool.

July: BLOGATHON! 24 hours of bloggy goodness served up piping hot by me and cousin ‘O Love. Check out the 5am entries for rambling on about nothing. Yeah. Good times.

Check out this fabulous bit of writing:

I used to be TERRIFIED of barfing. Until I had gastric bypass surgery in 1997 and spent a year learning how much I could eat without tipping the scale (as it were) over to “uh oh”. I finally got over my fear of my own barfing but still had some weird left over fears of other people barfing in front of me. It took my beloved goddaughter to help me get past that issue. Although I suspect that it was really more about my desire to take care of her that overrode the fear (because that’s what it was) of vomiting. Duty has barfed only once in our 6 years together and he was the noisiest damn barfer! I think one needs to be aware of the noise issue and try to barf quietly. That’s what I do. Shouldn’t everyone?

(I have gone insane, I’m pretty sure)

August: Goodness! I was full of seething rage for Kevin Federline! Clearly, I had gone insane!

I dare ANYone to prove that he doesn’t live off her money. For some (quite rational) reason, I despise Kevin Federline. D. E. S. P. I. S. E. And you know what it must take for a being of light and love as myself to go down into the lower vibrations of despisation, y’all. I’m just sayin’.

September: Ah yes. That thing they call work. And here’s the first time Boss McTizzypants visits us on this here blog:

Then, new boss has some ADD issues, apparently. (Not real ones, I don’t think) But right in the middle of training me on some system thing, he notices that his bulletin board has too many papers on it and takes ten minutes to re-arrange it. Uhhh, okay. And heaven forbid that his cell phone rings while he’s on a business call. He. will. put. the. business. call. on. hold. and take the personal call!! This boggles my mind. While I admit that I am not the most professional person you will meet, I do have a certain set of priorities which includes taking care of the BUSINESS call you are on (ADD thing again) and let the cell go to voicemail. But okay, whatever.

October: So, yeah. This was a fun month. Props to me and PiK for stepping up to the scary ass plate and thwacking the hell outta that ball! Woot! Woot!

Let it be known far and wide that Team Woo-Woo is in da hizzzzhouse!! Yep, McTizzypants done text messaged his ass right outta that job. Nice guy that BM is, he offered McTizz the opportunity to stay and take my job while I move in to his so at least he has a job and can get his licensure back. McT said he would think about it over the weekend and departed at 2:30. Soooo, “wager your widgets” (props to Hollinger) that he will not be returning. We shall see.

November: It is no coincidence that Mom and Lauren passed away in the same year. None at all. Before I left for Sancta Sophia, we got news that mom’s uterine cancer had spread. The doctors told me she had about three months. Turns out, it was three weeks. After spending 10 days in the high vibrational energy on the mountain, I returned to watch my mom slip away before my eyes. She promised me before I left that she would be there when I got back and she was, but not for long. I am thankful she didn’t suffer a long time. Here’s part of the eulogy I wrote and read at her funeral mass:

It’s been said that prayer is when you talk to God and meditation is when you listen to his response. And so my prayer this past summer was to ask how I could best take care of my mom and the answer came “Let her know that she mattered.” That was it. So simple yet so very complex. I’d like to think that my mom knew she mattered to me but my actions over the years didn’t always make that clear. But I kept that intention “You Matter to Me” foremost in my mind whenever I called or visited or did anything for her over these last four months. Because I wanted her to know, fully and deeply, that she mattered very, very much to me.

December: I looked at the few entries I have made this month and none of them are in the least noteworthy. This year has worn my ass out, y’all. Losing my mom and goddaughter, working, not-working, working again, getting promoted, trip to and being accepted at Sancta Sophia seminary, Relay for Life, blogathon, new friendships, renewing old friendships, writing, reading, crying … I could go on and on. This month has been one of reflection. And … taking a breath.

Bonus event: The Natural Living Expo in October where I did intuitive readings for people under the aegis of Rose Rosetree. What an experience! Here, read about it:

One of the things I’ve been doing bit by bit was putting my toe in the woo-woo wading pool. While I know I’ve got the knowledge and the intuitive skills to do readings, I’ve been hesitant to really put myself out there as an intuitive reader. I can now officially dash those fears as I have proven to myself that I can do it. And I can even do it in a noisy, crowded room full of people and energy and chaos. I was able to completely focus on the person in front of me and just be present. It was great. And I met so many cool people! Gave out lots of business cards and just chatted away. It’s amazing to me how easily I can be “out there” when I allow myself to do that.