Ahh Tuesday... Bring It!

Ok so pretty much everything I wrote about in my last post didn't end up happening, at all... Haha! Literally at the 11th-hour, I got a text from my friends letting me know that my ex was no longer going to Big Bear for the weekend and for me to get my butt up and ready to go, because they were leaving in 2 hours. Normally I wouldn't be so 'spur-of-the-moment', but I REALLY wanted to go. So yes, believe it or not, I made it happen, (somehow). Yeah ok, I kind of feel bad for not volunteering that weekend like I had originally planned... But I can do that any weekend of the year, whereas Oktoberfest in Big Bear is only ONCE a year. So that was my logic. Super glad I went... Had a total blast. Can't wait until next year!

So school is really starting to get old... I am sick of homework and studying for tests; ( I literally feel like I have a test every week!). But on the bright side I just realized the other day that I technically only have like 2 months left before the semester is over. Hurray!  There is just so much I want to do instead of school... Like plan weekend trips up to the mountains, ride my bike in the park with Schizo, go to the zoo, paint, whatever comes to mind in the moment. But instead each day I am thinking about how little time I have after work to study and still get a decent amount of sleep, while still trying to have a social life. Why do I make things seem so stressful when really, it's not all that bad? I'm such a puss...

To be honest, school really wasn't supposed to be all that big of a deal this semester... But then I started buying a house, and I met a boy that I like, (yeah... I know.) I promised to stay totally single for at least one year. But when someone amazing comes around, what are you supposed to do? Rules are meant to be broken anyway. So yeah the buying a house part has been keeping me really busy and is a stressful thing to handle, (especially before closing!); but now that I closed on the house it's really not so bad anymore. Can't wait to move in and have a backyard again! Sick and tired of Schizo pissing all over the place in my condo... What does he think he is, a dog?

Anyway... It is Tuesday... Time to get back to work.

Here we go again...

Ok so I received a 'compliant' that I haven't updated my blog since I created it, so I guess it's time to get back down to business! Here it goes...

So I was supposed to go to Big Bear, California this weekend for an annual Oktoberfest festival. It is an awesome trip that a bunch of my good friends and I take every year... It's up in the mountains in California with pine trees and a lake and ice cold beer and silly chicken dancing, etc. I LOVE going... Now 'why?' you might ask am I not going this year if it is sooooo wonderful?? Because my stupid ex is going. He didn't even ask me if I was ok with him going or anything about what my opinion was regarding the matter. Typical of him... Because when we dated it was always about him and what he wanted, not me. So yeah, he just flat-out made a decision to invite himself and crash the party; booked his flights and everything. Normally I would suck it up and go also and just be friendly with him, but I just can't give into those kinds of games anymore. I am finally putting my foot down with him. I am not going to allow him to just impose himself into my life like it's some kind of 'right' he has. He needs to back-off and respect my space and desire to move on with my life. Soooo... I decided not to go. I am not the kind of person to tell him that HE is not allowed to go, so I just decided not to go myself. I am really pissed about it and sad that I am going to miss it this year, but hey, it's not the end of the world. There is always next year!

Ok so no more bitching because there actually is light at the end of this tunnel... So I was all bummed about having to miss Big Bear with all of my friends this year, and was trying to think of what I might do that weekend instead to keep me entertained; and one of the most wonderful opportunities presented itself. I got an email from Whispering Hope Ranch Foundation declaring that they were in need of more volunteers at their next camp/event!! And weird... The date they needed help happened to be the Saturday that I would have been at Oktoberfest! So of course I emailed back and told them I was available. I am sooo sooo SOOOO excited to go! 

Whispering Hope Ranch Foundation is a nonprofit organization that offers a place of beauty, serenity and refuge for special needs children and their families; where they can experience the joys of nature and the healing that comes from the unconditional love, comfort and acceptance offered by animals. They have over 100 animals at the ranch including (but not limited to) horses, dogs, cats, donkeys, goats, birds, etc. So it is basically like 'Heaven on Earth' for me. :) Animals + special needs children? ...Don't mind if I do! Check out their website for more information (I have it listed at the end of this blog).

So yeah, I am totally stoked about it. I have been wanting to volunteer at the ranch all summer but never made the time for it. What a coincidence this would come up at just the right moment for me? So, it turns out that I will in fact get to spend my weekend up in the mountains with nature and a beautiful scenery. Not only that, but I am contributing to a good cause. I am so passionate about helping others and animals, so it really is such a perfect fit for me. I am going up there by myself. Which, to be totally honest, makes me kind of nervous since I never do things alone... But that is what makes me even more excited about the trip. It is going to be such an empowering experience for me. One step at a time and am becoming the independent woman I always knew I was but was never allowed to be. I know I will probably cry a lot on Saturday so I am definitely wearing my waterproof mascara! (hehe!).  Just sitting here thinking about it makes my eyes water a little bit. 

So on that note I am out of here.... Till next time!

<3 ...:::liesl

Don't forget to check out WHRF at www.whisperinghoperanch.org

Also a few other goodies that I have enjoyed this past week:

Funny cartoon episode:

http://www.livevideo.com/video/Dj994ka/52B9D8A83303435585F0133230162DDF/aqua-teen-hunger-force-frat-aliens.aspx

Just bought the new Maroon 5 album and I LOVE these songs:

'Runaway'

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3v2ZOoxKOaw

'How' 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=la0Fxx3ZbNo

Oh Joy! My Very First Blog…

I used to write in a journal… In fact I have filled up about 4 or 5 journals in my life. Then I stopped when I was about 18-ish. That was 7-ish years ago. I don’t know why I quit writing. Probably because I always had too much to say and hated it when my hand would start to hurt from writing so much. Or probably because I didn’t make the time for it. Life gets complicated as you get older.  Not that whoever is reading this doesn’t already know that, but I am writing this mostly for me, not you, so shut it. :) Or it could be because of all of the dudes with vaginas I have dated over the years that didn’t have their own life or hobbies and heaven forbid a few minutes of my time go towards me writing in my journal alone and in peace and take away from ‘us time’. Ugh… So so soooooooo glad to finally be single again. Some people make it a mission in life to date and hold onto a long-term relationship in an effort to find ‘the one’…. Yeah, been there done that. My new mission is to stay as far away from relationships as possible and be absolutely selfish from now on. Sick and tired of living for someone else. It’s time for me again.

Anyway I wanted to start a blog because I have been thinking about and needing a way to export all of the thoughts and emotions and ideas that constantly bang around in my brain all day. I think writing is a very therapeutic outlet and because I am a faster typer than I am a writer, I decided to create a blog. Who knows!? Maybe blogging will re-inspire my drive to make more time to write in my journal once in a while. After all, I still have one that I haven’t finished so I need to fill it up eventually.

I am working today… It has been a kind of slow day. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing but the problem with slow work days is that it leads to more and more thinking. Thinking about all the things I want and need to do but don’t have time for and can’t do right now because I am at work. I have been trying to organize and gather up all of the thoughts and ideas I have. (Starting a blog being one of them). Soooooo… Here is my list of thoughts/goals for now:

- Get back into my workout routine and eat healthier

- Need to buy a new bike and gear for hiking and running etc.
- Go through my place and get rid of stuff/clothes I don’t need or want anymore, (‘de-clutter’)

- Lots and lots of homework to do... EEEK!
- Quit smoking??? Hmmmmm….
- Save more money so I can spend more money (yeah, because THAT makes sense Liesl…)

Ahh the things that come to mind… So far I have accomplished ZERO of the things on that list this week (except the homework part). I know it’s only 11:13AM on a Thursday, but the fact that I am about to go out on a smoke break and am planning on skipping the gym tonight so I have more time to run errands before class, and then have happy hour/dinner afterward isn’t exactly a good sign for my efforts. But in the end, things always seem to pull through for me somehow… (knock on wood)