You've Arrived....Blogger Recognition

So recently, actually a while ago I am late on this post-so very late, I received an award from another blogger. Getting the award felt a lot like winning the blue ribbon at a spelling bee. Ok, I was never part of a spelling bee, I was on the debate team but that analogy just didn't seem to work here. In any case I was touched and very flattered by the gesture. I tell clients that if you are going to jump on the blog/social networking train you better be real, there is no faking it here. So to have someone that visits my blog regularly say hey I'm not bored yet I like your style is a real honor.

Heidi over at the Health Nut Wannabee Mom blog is the blogger that bestowed the special award, known as the Arte y Pico Award, on me. What you haven't heard of it before? Well let me tell you, that is because it is a very rare, prestigious, and selective award that not many people get. Come on it's my first award so of course I think it's the best award out there!! Seriously I am touched and very thankful for the recognition, it is a lot of pressure an honor. I hope I can continue to provide award worthy content and support those other blogger's that are doing the same.

Ladies and Gents:

The Arte y Pico Award

The "Arte y Pico" Award was created and to be given to blogger's who inspire others with their creative energy and their talents, whether it be writing, artwork in all media's.

It was so meant for me...look at the hot smart chick on it!

Part of receiving this award is sharing it with at least 5 other blogger's. So now I get to bestow this wonderful award to you people....drum roll please!

This Brazen Teacher

About Site - I am an Art Teacher.This site is a revenge against my career. Against my paycheck. Against Politics. Against the standardization of everything. And I mean everything. We have a couple of teachers in the family and let me tell you these ladies are wild! As a kid I knew but could never prove it this blog does that for me. I am giving her this award even though she has gotten a few others, because I want to. She has Calvin & Hobbes on her page, Paulo Coelho in her roll, Crotchety's seal of approval, and I am never bored when I stop by.

Crotchety Old Man Yells At Cars

His Bio - I'm a crotchety old guy who enjoys ranting and raving about the injustices of the world. While many of my rants are political in nature, I can complain about almost anything. If I were a cartoon character, I'd be Grandpa Simpson or an elderly Eric Cartman. I personally love his rants they are intellectual, informative, and incredibly amusing. which is difficult to accomplish, but so wonderful when done well.

Secrets of a Black Heart

Lunanik is a wonderful blogger, she's been doing it for quite a while and it shows. Her writing style is wonderfully engaging. she is witty, funny, and most importantly real. She writes about every day things which could get boring, but the way her personality comes through I cant wait to see what she is going to write about next. Lately Miss Lunanik feels a little drained, a bit uninspired, and has been thinking about pulling back. I sincerely hope that she doesn't, she is a great blogger.

A Little Piece of Me

Blog Description-"Just a general blog about me and my life. You will find anything from my counseling homework, photography, hiking, traveling, doodles and more on this blog." I personally do not visit this blog enough, when I do happen by I am always happy I did. She is one of those people that you would want to know in person, if you like that full package perfect chick thing (just kidding). Seriously great blog, great commenter-if you see her comments you know they are going to be interesting, with envy inducing doodles. Check her out.

Regretful Morning

The tag line "We Laugh At Your Misfortune. Initially I thought this blog would be one of those blogs that I would check out once, hate, and never return. I was wrong! Though it is not a blog for the faint of heart (good humor never is), it is hysterical. This blog could have been one of those uninspired, nonsense, shock effect, fall short blogs but surprisingly it is not. Jason takes alcohol induced regretful stories (we all have them), mixes in his own humor, and throws it out there for the wolves to devour. All of this makes for a fun blog.

So there you have it, those are the chaps I think deserve an award whether they like it or not!

Favre seeks unconditional release - So The Battle Begins

And so it begins....Favre has asked for an unconditional release in writing, the Packers have the choice of reinstatement or release.

ESPN - Favre seeks unconditional release from Packers, sources say - NFL

HATTIESBURG, Miss. -- Three days after a conference call with Packers team officials in which quarterback Brett Favre emphatically expressed his desire to play in 2008, Favre on Friday formally asked by letter for his unconditional contractual release, sources close to Favre and the team said.

Sounds like the Packers are going to take a hard stance....come back and play backup to Rodgers we are not releasing you so you can be picked up by a team in our division!

FOX Sports on MSN - NFL - Sources: Favre flip-flopped before draft

FOXSports.com has learned that the organization has no intention of granting that request. If anything, sources say, the team would be prepared to welcome Favre back as a backup to quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

Favre seeks return, requests release from Packers

"As always," the team's statement said, "the Packers will do what’s right and in the best interest of the team. As with all Packers greats, Brett's legacy will always be celebrated by our fans and the organization, regardless of any change in his personal intentions."

Personally this is hard for me, like I said yesterday I love the packers and I love Brett. From what I have found fans are going back and forth with this but the majority support Brett's decision. As emotional as we can get with football it is a business, and as a businessman can you really blame Brett for wanting to play even if it is not as a Packer?

FOX Sports on MSN - NFL - Favre comeback rumors hurting his legacy

Every year he says he's retiring and this time every year he wants to come back.His act is tired. Go FISHING,HUNTING,to LAS VEGAS do something else with your life.Its not fair to Rogers or the Packers to go through this every year. GET A LIFE!!!

Bottom Line...Brett has proven to be a great QB and has earned the right to play if he wants. Look at the stats he put up last year, can anyone honestly say he doesn't have the ability any longer? At his age he is still one of the very best to step onto the field and every team he plays against knows they are in for a fight..you can't say that about over half of the teams out there today. He took the Packers to the NFC Championship game and ran into a juggernaut that also knocked off an undefeated team to that point. Brett...you have earned the right to play if that's what you want and many welcome you back and would love to see #4 back out there again.

Let's look at Favre's resume: A resume any CEO would be proud to boast about!

The NFL's all-time leader in passing yards, touchdown passes, completions, attempts, interceptions and wins by a quarterback.

Last year, Favre posted a career-best 66.5 completion percentage while throwing for 4,155 yards, 28 touchdowns and 15 interceptions. He won his seventh division title and played in his fourth NFC championship game as Packers quarterback.

Looking at other Veteran Quarterback record holders:

John Elway after a period of decline made back to back Super Bowl appearances and wins, with their first Super Bowl title by defeating the Green Bay Packers, (very sad day for me) 31-24, in Super Bowl XXXII. The Broncos repeated as champions the following season in Super Bowl XXXIII by defeating the Atlanta Falcons, 34-19. Elway was voted MVP of the Super Bowl.

Making Elway 37 & 38 years old...hmmm same age as Favre

Joe Montana In 1990 led the 49ers to the best record (14-2) in the NFL. Injured 91 & 92 was replaced by Steve Young and then traded to the Chiefs (I can only imagine how hard this was for the 49er fans). He was injured for part of the 1993 season, but still led the Chiefs in two come-from-behind wins in the 93 playoffs and reached the AFC Championship Game. Including their two playoff victories that year, the Chiefs won 13 games, tying the franchise record for wins in a season. Montana was also selected to his final Pro Bowl at the end of the 93 season. In 1994 Montana led the Chiefs to another playoff appearance and then retired.

Making Montana 36 years old...not too bad for an "old guy"

So as hard as this may be do we really want to keep this incredible athlete from fulfilling his dreams? Coming off of an unbelievable last season, still breaking records and setting the bar just that much higher for the younger QB's, is it really that far fetched to believe that he could come back? The reason sports are so addictive is that the impossible becomes possible on any given Sunday, or Monday, or the odd Thursday.....

This aint going to be easy but whatever Brett Favre does and wherever he goes I support his decision to Go For It!

Brett Favre....Will He or Won't He???

The real glory is being knocked to your knees and then coming back. That's real glory. That's the essence of it.

The price of success is hard work, dedication to the job at hand, and the determination that whether we win or lose, we have applied the best of ourselves to the task at hand.

~Vince Lombardi

I haven't brought sports, politics, or religion into this blog-until now. All three topics touch a deep cord in people, and can get pretty heated, but I am going to throw caution to the wind and bring sports in. It's been on my mind and of course it's all over sports news right now. These are just a few links, if you go to Pro Sports Daily you will see that for the last week this has been a hot, super hot topic!!

Favre's rumored comeback has players buzzing

Nightmare in Green Bay: The Saga of Brett Favre is far from over

The Favre option

Packers: Kids grill McCarthy about Favre

Favre rumors live on: Rodgers, McCarthy don't foresee comback

Brett Favre News: Pro Sports Daily

So will he or won't he? If Favre comes back what will that mean? They absolutely will not let him be a free agent, so keep him or trade him?

Packers honestly will not, could not, and probably should not keep him, so you trade him. Oh the absolute and utter horror.....it is making me sick to my stomach to think of Brett Favre anywhere but with the Packers! (no I wont-absolutely not) How do you reconcile it? I am a Packer fan and have been for nearly two decades now, but you have to be honest, it's the team, history, community we love but also (BIG also here)the players that make up that team.

Would the love for Green Bay be there without Curly Lambeau, Vince Lombardi, Bart Starr, Reggie White, Brett Favre and many many more, including Favre the Packers will have 22 Hall of Famers? Not to mention those players that aren't Hall of Famers, but Pro Bowlers, mvp's, and just damn incredible that have in their own right contributed to our deep devotion to this team.

So I understand that if Favre comes back he will not be wearing the "Green and Gold" so what team will I be watching on the sly? Will it be the Bears, the Bucs or the Vikings (not likely, GB could never let that happen) or the Panthers, the Ravens, or the Dolphins? There is even speculation about the Raiders my worst nightmare that would be a knife in my chest, when Jerry Rice went there I was saddened but to have Favre there would be unbearable. I tagged January 20th and March 4th, 2008 as dark days, but the day Favre plays for the Raiders would be the start of Armageddon!! I am not even going to give this another thought, it's highly improbable and in my world impossible.

Well I have said my piece and from here it is all speculation anyway. I know that to worry is a waste of energy but to know and to do are two very different things.

So we wait.............

Picture by Karinacoma http://karincoma.deviantart.com/art/vector-burn-91348082

Technorati Tags: brett favre comeback,vince lombardi,green and gold,green bay packers

George Carlin

George Carlin for nearly three decades (1977 to 2005) has been provoking, challenging, and questioning just about everything. One of the funniest and most incredibly intelligent man out there....he'll be missed.

I picked a few pieces from his website that made me laugh, http://www.georgecarlin.com/.

I wish I could say more, but I think he says it best himself so check out his website and any of the cable specials when you can-you won't be dissapointed

---

WHEN WILL JESUS BRING THE PORKCHOPS?

George Carlin spends a lot of time pondering the universe. For example, he worries about the gloves that deli sandwich makers now use. Where have they been and who wants latex on his sandwich? He wonders, too, about the PC police who refer to ugly people as "people with severe appearance deficits." And why do they lock the public bathrooms at gas stations? Are they afraid that someone will clean them? In When Will Jesus Bring the Pork Chops?, Carlin probes life's deeper mysteries and emerges with many answers and very dirty hands.

---

NAPALM & SILLY PUTTY

In the expression "topsy-turvy," what exactly is meant by "turvy"? George Carlin asks many more nonsensical questions like that one in the 256 pages of this new hardcover collection of mockery. If you've read his first book, Braindroppings (and if you haven't, buy it immediately) you're going to devour this new collection of Carlin-isms.

---

LIFE IS WORTH LOSING

This is the audio version of the recent HBO show.

1. A Modern Man
2. Pussy Fart, Dingleberry, Cornhole
3. The Suicide Guy
4. Extreme Human Behavior
5. The All-Suicide TV Channel
6. Dumb Americans
7. Pyramid Of The Hopeless
8. Autoerotic Asphyxia
9. The Save-A-Pussy Foundation
10. Yeast Infection
11. Coast-To-Coast Emergency

I'm a Superstar.....Vanity

Week Seven of the Seven Deadly Sin Series, this is a momentous occasion to be sure!! I am behind, today is Wednesday not Terrible Tuesday, but in all honesty this was the best post to be late on because it shows how self absorbed I am. I am a workaholic and proud of it, so if other things need to be put on the back shelf while I superstar shine at work well then so be it.

From my new favorite website: deadlysins.com

What it is: Pride is excessive belief in one's own abilities, that interferes with the individual's recognition of the grace of God. It has been called the sin from which all others arise. Pride is also known as Vanity.

Why you do it: Well-meaning elementary school teachers told you to "believe in yourself."

Your punishment in Hell will be: You'll be broken on the wheel.

The Travelers' Guide to Hell says that Pride is "the mother of all sins... the thin line between righteousness and self-righteousness."

Vanity/Pride, this really is the attribute I most need to work on. I have to be the best at whatever I do, I can't even tell you where that comes from, but if I am not the best then I will nearly kill myself until I am. I never take all of the credit for my achievements I know that it takes a team, but even in that there is that pride factor. My Team! I feel a little sorry for my future children, I don't take well to halfass anything, give it your all and I will be happy. I have five younger brothers and I know that I have driven a few of them crazy with my "passionate" personality.

I call it Passion; determination = passion, bossy = passion, overbearing = passion, meticulous = passion, the best = passion. Do you see a pattern here? I do not take on a task, a goal, a job, or a project unless it taps into my "passion". I don't always start out the best at what I do, but if I am stepping up to the plate I will go head first and all in so I can become the best. I can't begin to tell you how much stress this creates in my life, I think part of it is the addiction to adrenaline. If I look at non-work areas of my life I am an adventure/adrenaline junkie, skydiving, rock climbing, flying lessons, traveling solo, temples/pyramids, deep jungle treks, active volcano climbs, shark/deep/wreck/drift dives, and on and on. If it scares me I want to do it. I have this insatiable need to conquer my fears, to meet challenges head on, internally I think it proves I am bad ass. Little gal syndrome much?

If I went a little Jung here it is probably some deep seeded childhood, collective unconscious, past life thing rearing its head in this incarnation. The one area in my life that I do not have that all consuming jump right in mentality is in the relationship zone. I am the exact opposite, cautious, critical, and standoffish. I jumped in when I was younger and then decided it got in the way so shelved it. It is driving my mother crazy-she's starting to get that I'll never have grandchildren fever thing. In many of my sin posts I have talked about balance and moderation this is a perfect example of needing both. Intellectually I know that being the best at anything really has no intrinsic value it is a compulsion, not the worst one out there, but still a trait that should be tempered a bit. I also understand that the relationships in your life, family, friends, and loved ones hold the most value in the greater scheme of things. I will always believe that anything worth doing should be done passionately, now I just need to spread that passion throughout my life and I should be just fine.

So that's it, you have seen my posts on all seven sins. This has been the hardest undertaking to date on my blog journey, but well worth the occasional discomfort. I want to thank Caffeine Court for getting this going, Lunanik and Huckdoll for throwing it out there to the rest of us. It's been fun ladies....but I feel like I just got my sin hall pass for the rest of the year!!

To feed into my vanity even further Tim Fox over there at Sogeshirts has posted a review of my blog. He didn't call me a superstar in so many words but its there you can tell he wanted to(ha,ha)....Stars are really aligned for this post today!!

Don’t forget to check out the other Sin Sisters: (They probably did their post yesterday)

Ssgreylord

Huckdoll

Caffeine Court

Secrets of a Black Heart

CableGirl

April

Sogeshirt.com.....I Love You Man!

Today I have decided to do my first blog & website review, I have held off thus far because though I feel I know everything about everything, I am still in research mode when it comes to the blogsphere. I also just enjoy blogging and the interaction within the blog community and I don't want to lose that with my tactless reviews. Yes it's self preservation that motivates me-I am not afraid to admit it!

Lucky for me I am picking a blog & website that I like, so this will be a good review. Drum roll please....who is the lucky duck getting the Smart Gals today? Anticipation, are you ready for it, you'll never guess....ok it's Tim Fox over there at Sogeshirts.

Tim has a t-shirt company and a hysterical blog to accompany his t-shirt website. From a business standpoint, Tim is bit luckier than most because his shirts and his blog work well together. What I mean by that is, if your business has more of a corporate platform your blog in most cases must mimic or target that profile, which equates to an informational rather than a super personal-say what ever you want blog.

Let's start with Tim's blog (by the way if a word is underlined it is linked to a website in most cases) it's hysterical! I absolutely know that when I check it out it's going to make me laugh. Now that is a bit of a double edged sword, to be funny all of the time is not easy. In most cases you will find that the humor comes and goes or must be supplemented by someone or something external. Tim is unique in that his humor is all inside, he takes external stimuli and pulls it into what I would call Soge's world. (If you use that Tim, I want some kind of royalty payout!)

There are blogs out there that share funny pictures, videos, stories, jokes, etc. add in a bit of their own commentary and it's some great stuff. I am one of those people that can spot something funny add a "witty" little comment and share-that is perfectly acceptable. But then there are those people that take something that maybe didn't start off funny and make it hysterical-that's Tim.

Here are a few posts I really like, in no particular order and I could fill this blog post up with a lot more:

M. Night Shyamalan effect

Founding fathers: a present day conversation

Dr. Phil on Sesame Street

The Second most interesting man in the world

Mr. Potatohead vs. Plastic Surgery

Now let's discuss the t-shirt website Sogeshirts.com (This is where Tim may regret letting me do this review) first I am going to say he doesn't promote it enough. Now I know for the hardcore bloggers your blog is about being real, sharing your opinions and/or life experiences, and keeping annoying advertising out if possible-but for Tim I think the shirts and the blog posts would compliment each other.

It took me a month to check out his shirts and really they are as funny as his blog posts. The ones I like, again in no particular order, and there are more:

• Still Interested
• Phone sex
• Spelling Bee
• He sells beer to kids
• Karmic Bliss

Second and my last recommendation-thank heavens right, is you may want to think about splitting Sogeshirts.com into two websites, the funny, obnoxious, over the top site and the kid, cutesy, teacher, artwork site. The demographics are really different and you will find that the second target market (wholesome funny) will never get past the the first (not easily offended funny). That's just my opinion though.

The tag line for the t-shirt company is "Soge Shirts You'll Get Noticed!", that is a great tag line and absolutely true, their shirts are as funny as their blog. So go check out Tim's blog and don't be afraid to delve into the archive, there is some good stuff in there! Then go buy a t-shirt because if you are honest with yourself you couldn't think up this stuff on your own, and you know that being noticed is at the top of your list!!

Now the rating...5 out 5 Smart Gals:

She Said Lust.....

Hello sin fans, here we are on week 6 of the Terrible Tuesday sin series. Now if you read last week's sin post Envy I talked up this LUST thing a bit. I was actually very excited about the post, really looking forward to spending a little time in the field doing some "research". I was willing to possibly damn my immortal soul for you readers, only because I wanted to give you the most in-depth and comprehensive blog post possible, all for you really!!

Well I am sorry to have to let you all down-I do not have any lust filled stories to share. I tried really I did, but when you are looking to lust it is hard to find! I am not sure what went wrong or why, well if you ask anyone who knows me I am a bit picky, but I really did try to throw all caution to the wind and lust away. Alas it was not to be had, but let's get on with the post-you may still enjoy it!

Lets look at some Definitions for LUST:

Lust is an inordinate craving for the pleasures of the body.

Lust (or lechery) is usually thought of as involving obsessive or excessive thoughts or desires of a sexual nature. Unfulfilled lusts sometimes lead to sexual or sociological compulsions and/or transgressions.

Dante's criterion was "excessive love of others," which therefore rendered love and devotion to God as secondary.

Now the Punishment:

You'll be smothered in fire and brimstone.

In "Purgatorio", the penitent walks within flames to purge himself of lustful/sexual thoughts and feelings.

(See this is the one I would think deserves freezing water for all eternity isn't too much heat what got us into trouble in the first place, cold shower anyone? Walking through fire a little excessive...)

So how do I fit into the sin of LUST? Well, like I said in my envy post I think a little lust is good, it wasn't my fault I couldn't find a lust subject. But then I was talking to another blogger after that post and he pointed out that lust is not about a little, it is about a lot, ie. obsess much. So considering this and the religious connotation of lust I guess I will have to reassess my position on this wicked little sin.

So if not lust what is good then? Well I think desire, passion, and a good imagination are not only healthy but essential to living a happy fulfilling life. A sense of adventure, a sense of humor, and plenty of costumes-for Halloween of course, what were you thinking? (wink, wink) I understand the reason for the seven deadly sins, excess is bad and can lead to dangerous behaviors and/or actions, but sometimes we get a little carried away with the saving us from ourselves thing. Like all those crazy laws we enacted back in the day to protect people from lustful soul damning thoughts and actions. I mean did there really need to be a law mandating that a man brush his teeth before doing the deed with his wife? Come on now....and what was with the twin beds for married couples? The Beav wasn't dropped off by a stork.

Many of the "sins" were created and escalated by our overbearing need to control EVERYTHING, we take things that start out healthy and warp them until they are so unrecognizable that you can't remember what they began as. Ok I got a little worked up there-sorry. I will say though that if we didn't have just a little bit of that almost suffocating conservatism around we wouldn't have little gems like: Seinfeld's,"The Contest", Beavis & Butthead's, "She said member...huh uh," Eddie Murphy's, "Raw", or "The Vagina Monologues" to keep us slightly amused.

I do not think that we have to call something bad because it brings pleasure. Thoughts, emotions, and cravings are all very powerful but for those that can separate reality from fantasy, the purely physical from the beautifully emotional, and are consenting adults well you just keep on keeping on. But stay out of those mid-western states they seem to have the craziest "morality" laws, no nudity in the front lawn after dark (day time is ok I guess), live fish & walk-in freezers-still working that out, hunting/wedding day/consummation...equals crazy!

Everything in moderation is what I say!

or in excess with a Brad Pitt look alike or that guy from Sex in the City, you know Samantha's man the one that posed for the Calvin ad, or that guy (the cast) from 300, then there was that one guy...

Here is a little test for the rest of you, let me know if I will be seeing you on the other side. Don't be shy it's all in good fun -unless you are easily shocked & offended then maybe not.

CLICK HERE TO TEST YOUR LUST QUOTIENT >>>>> LUST Test

Don’t forget to check out the other Sin Sisters:

Ssgreylord

Huckdoll

Caffeine Court

Secrets of a Black Heart

CableGirl

April

The Power of Positive Thoughts

Today's post is at David Tamayo's blog...please click on the picture or go directly to http:www.securityforidiots.blogspot.com, read the post about Eddie Boy and leave a comment. Eddie and his family could really use your kind words and healing thoughts.

"The greatest healing therapy is friendship and love.”

-Hubert H. Humphrey

The Green-Eyed Monster Envy

Ok here it is again Terrible Tuesday and I am still contributing to the sin sister carnival with my fifth sin post-oh that's right I am nearly there two more after this and I get to put all this introspection away until I offload it onto my shrink in 20 years.

Today's post was going to be a wickedly delicious lust post, I don't see anything really wrong with lust so I had planned on doing quite a bit of it last Thursday at a country concert that the girls and I were attending. You saw the "was going to" and the "had planned" so you know that will not be the case. What I forgot when planning the girls night out was that when you get a bunch of girls together...well you just can't plan anything.

So I didn't get to lust..much, I mean I am not blind, there was one cute cowpoke that caught my eye, but it was brief and not worth going into much detail. For shame!! I will be at the beach this weekend so we will try for a hottie surfer boy post next week. So today's or rather tonight's post, since I have pushed it off, is going to be about envy. You see there was a little drama on the girls night out and it got me thinking about that little green devil, envy.

I am not an envy girl, sure every so often I see someone or something that gets me thinking wouldn't it be nice, but then just as often I see someone or some-many in a position that I am glad I am not in. So all in all I believe life balances out, gives a little here, takes a little there, but in the end its all square. That's just me. But now do I know some envy dwellers, afraid I do, and when I was looking around for some envy quotes I found one that really sums it up.

"Malice that cannot speak its name, cold-blooded but secret hostility, impotent desire, hidden rancor and spite -- all cluster at the center of envy. Envy clouds thought, writes Joseph Epstein, clobbers generosity, precludes any hope of serenity, and ends in shriveling the heart. Of the seven deadly sins, he concludes, only envy is no fun at all."

Yeah I got to agree here with Mr. Epstein, with Greed, Gluttony, Sloth, Vanity, and even Wrath there is some enjoyment-at least in the beginning anyway. You see I didn't put LUST in there because I am just not sure I think lust is a sin?!? Envy just makes you miserable and makes everyone around you want to knock you out (ouch there is that wrath again-made me smile though), I am not sure why people would let themselves get caught up in this one. Where's the tiniest bit of gratification in this one, we haven't gotten to how vain I am so maybe that's why I am not gettin it?

The only thing I can really say about the sin of envy, besides the punishment not being that bad supposedly you go to hell and are put in "freezing" water (well give me a break if I am in hell cold water is exactly where I want be! You know now that I think about it I thought hell was not supposed to have ice water isn't that what they are all screaming for? Maybe I should rethink my stance on this one just incase I end up there, I wonder if faking envy is good enough to get the punishment for it?) What I was trying to say, before I got off on that tangent, is that I feel sorry for those individuals that are consumed by this little green devil. Life is too short and too precious to be trying to live someone else's existence, be thankful for the gifts you are given, and chalk the rest up to shit happens. No seriously, for some the hard times can be excruciatingly hard, but if you can make it through and somehow even learn from them, the good times are that much sweeter.

So drop the green devil because you need to make room for the sweetness of the lust angel doesn't that sound like more fun!! I say angel because cupid does not look like a devil to me, and don't try telling me he represents true love, he's naked that is lust! See you next week, I don't know about the time, but the place will be the same.

Don’t forget to check out the other Sin Sisters:

Ssgreylord

Huckdoll

Caffeine Court

Secrets of a Black Heart

CableGirl

April

Technorati Tags: Envy,Joseph Epstein,Lust is better,Seven Deadly Sins,There is ice water in hell

It's a Wrath Thing!

Today's sin boys and girls is Wrath, and I am writing about Wrath because I have a lot of it! I am not sure if it is the hormones starting to kick up or something else. I am angry because I have to write this post, I am angry because the website I have been working on for the last two months is still lacking, and I am angry because there are real morons in the world! Yeah I said it you heard it, there are some people out there that just piss me off!

I have a temper, it could be the Irish in me, could be the vertically challenged thing better known as little gals syndrome - I am 5’3 and 107 pounds soaking wet but I will kick your butt. You know Bruce Lee wasn’t a big guy either! Who knows why I have this wicked temper, but I have for as long as I can remember. I was one of those kids that actually liked horror movies. I am also a big sports fan especially physical sports, football, hockey, rugby, UFC, soccer if there is a little blood.

Seriously though I can be very reactionary, I flare up easily so I have had to train myself to stop, breath, think, and then act. If you couldn't tell, I was a scuba instructor that is a mantra we taught divers to keep them from killing themselves, really I said it so often because I had to remind myself that I couldn’t hurt them-they were paying customers. My nickname was Dive Nazi because I was not so nice, especially to those that were just plain…well you can fill it in. Crazy thing is those people, my former students, still like me-well actually most of them were guys we know what gluttons they are....

I had to take a behavioral profile for a job 6 years ago and the first line in it said “Bridget is intolerant of people who seem ambiguous or think too slowly. She may lose interest in what others are saying if they ramble or don’t speak to the point. She should exhibit more patience…[yada, yada, yada].” I was sure they were going to fire me, amazingly my boss thought it was the perfect behavioral profile for the position – I should have known then she was going to turn out to be psychotic. The descriptors for my malady are controlling witch Dominant Influencer, I will first try to persuade you to see it my way and then I will make you. I really can’t understand why I am still single?

I do flare up quickly but I also burn out pretty quickly. On top of that if you can make me see how stupid I am being -without saying those words - that is if you want to keep both of your eyes in your head, and make me laugh I am quick to humor too. In my advancing years things do roll off a bit easier, I am either maturing or just getting lazier, getting pissed off takes a lot out of you!

OK so I feel better now that I got it all out, not so annoyed that I had to deal with slow people all day, and like I said last week I guess this carnival every Tuesday thing is turning out to be a good thing…I suppose. I could be feeling better, smiling even, because I just listened to Lilly Allen's songs Smile and Knock Em Out - terrible but she always puts a smile on my face!!

Don’t forget to check out the other Sin Sisters:

Ssgreylord

Huckdoll

Caffeine Court

Secrets of a Black Heart

CableGirl

Seven Deadly Sins...Avarice/Greed

It is that time again… Terrible Tuesday with The Seven Deadly Sin Carnival! For the love of Joseph I cannot believe I have seven weeks of this (that is my sloth talking and I am sure that the love of Joseph thing is blasphemy so I am off to a good start here). I picked Avarice this week, partly because I forgot what it meant, so I thought it might not apply to me, hence an easy post. Wrong! Avarice boys and girls is another word for GREED, that little green devil that makes you ravenous for the Qwan.

Honestly Greed and Gluttony are synonymous, but those crazy Christians like to keep you on your toes, so they throw the same thing in under a different name. No actually I think Gluttony is more sustenance based and Greed is more monetary…we all know the Scrooge story don’t we? So how am I Greedy…I guess if I am going to dig deep here I am probably greedy for things. I have a lot of things, closets, a garage, an extra bedroom full of things. I am a bit of a pack rat I think, I am told I could cloth a developing country and the shoe thing (well we just won’t get into that).


In my defense I do try to offset my greed with helping others, I want nice things but in return for that I work hard and I give back. I’ve been told that I do not charge enough for my services, if you ask anyone who’s worked with me they will tell you I am more interested in getting the job done right then how much I am going to make from it. Don’t get me wrong, like I said I want nice things, so I am no Saint here but I get real joy out of helping someone else.


Now that I threw in that little side note to make myself look better -next posts are definitely pride & vanity, I should look around and give some of this stuff away. Take the less is more road, there are so many people out there that could benefit from the stuff I take for granted. Besides a natural disaster could hit here tomorrow and all of this stuff would mean nothing! That was that cute little angel on my left shoulder, that trampy little devil on my right shoulder is saying, “if you get rid of some of this stuff (Ebay) you could get that alkaline water thing you want!!“ It is a constant struggle really, to find that healthy balance of giving and receiving.


So you tell me is it ok to have more than some, not as much as others, but more than you truly need? What is true greed, how do you quantify it? According to Wikipedia the accumulation of possessions that denies others legitimate needs is greed. That is rather ambiguous, how should I know if I am denying someone else, I am no Scrooge but I am no Gandhi either. In my work I help others but I am rewarded for that so does that count?


I think it is all a matter of perspective, I look at Warren Buffet and Bill Gates, both ridiculously wealthy men and both incredible givers. Warren lives frugally while Bill lives “a bit” more lavishly, but are they Greedy men? I would say maybe a little here and a little there but overall (disclaimer here I don’t know them personally so if one turns out to be a serial killer there was no way I could have known) I think they are good people who have done a great deal for others. In the end if someone can say that about me I will know I did alright.


And I will not try and take all those shoes with me when I go, I will let them go to those who need them most – excluding a pair of Manolo Blahniks. I mean I have to wear something and those are the only ones that will go with the outfit!

Don't forget to check out the other carnival members: (I am sure there are more these are the ones I know of)

Huckdoll
Caffeine Court
Secrets of a Black Heart
CableGirl

I Got Your Back M Night Shyamalan

Ok so I was out there making the rounds the other day and I went to Tim Fox’s blog, he is hysterical you have to check out his blog, he comes up with the best stuff and I always leave there with a smile on my face. So anyway, he had this M Night Shyamalan post, comparing M Night’s movie collection to being in a steadily deteriorating relationship.

His take on M Night’s movie portfolio is as follows:

“Sixth Sense which was a classic [Unbreakable was good], Signs was ok, The Village was garbage, and Lady in the Water was one of the worst movies ever.” He isn’t optimistic about The Happening and that's putting it mildly!

Ok, so normally I would just laugh at his blog (it was funny), make a comment, and move on. The problem is that Signs came on the teli the other night and I had just read his post. You see I liked Signs and I liked The Village and I know people will think I am mad but I liked Lady in the Water also. There I said it I like them all, the dirty secret is Lady in the Water. I actually didn’t like it the first time I saw it, because it wasn’t what I expected, but I watched it again and I liked it. Could I watch it a hundred times like say Troy....with Brad Pitt’s soft porn shots- OMG where did that come from get back on topic, no but that doesn’t mean it was horrid. Honestly Unbreakable was my least favorite because Bruce’s character was just so damn pathetic! Not that Bruce wasn’t a little depressing in Six Sense but in Unbreakable it was the same guy just worse and so annoying – you find out you are unbreakable – buck up already!!

I thought Signs was great, it’s an overdone theme yes, but a few parts made me jump, a few parts made me smile, and I have been able to watch it more than once (true test of a good movie). The ending was predictable but how many endings aren’t, we can’t expect Six Sense every time? I think that is the real reason folks were disappointed with subsequent films, it’s because we don’t like it when people deviate from what we expect. Shyamalan does Hitchcock horror really well, but does that mean that he can’t do anything else? Stephen King gets that also, he should do one thing, and one thing only right? Nope! One of my favorite King books is “The Eyes of the Dragon” a dark Arthurian type fairytale about two boys (Lady in the Water also fairytale based theme) that has absolutely no gore and a lesson to be learned.

You know for all that Stephen King has done he has had his share of duds, bad reviews, stumbling points, and well it takes a few broken yokes to make an omelet doesn’t it? If I had stopped checking out his work after his poor reviews I would have missed out on some good stuff. I think that M Night Shyamalan has a lot of creativity and a uniques perspective on things. In expressing what’s bottled in that expansive imagination he is allowed to take some unexpected turns.

I for one am looking forward to The Happening I hope that I do not have to eat my words after this I have faith in M Night’s abilities as a story teller. I am a little nervous about Mark Wahlberg but his brother was awesome in Six Sense so why not… who knows he may surprise us? God I hope so …oops that was meant to stay in my head.

So Tim I turned your funny dating post into a movie review…sorry I just have to express myself it’s a sickness!!

Seven Deadly Sins.....Sloth

It is Terrible Tuesday again and I have another Seven Deadly Sin post to contribute to the carnival. I chose Gluttony last week and this week I am doing Sloth. I decided to participate in this carnival because it just sounded cool, but I have found in writing these posts that it is actually quite cathartic. I spent a year in Catholic prison (that is a Catholic high school) which I chose of my own accord because I wanted to learn something. I have to admit I learned a lot, but I also closed off to a lot, like some of the lessons in the Seven Deadly Sins. A sin for a Catholic (for the type of Catholic I was-don't want to offend anyone) is something to confess to your priest and then move on, I never looked at how these “sins” could impact personal growth, who knew I would get that lesson from a blog!!



Sloth is defined as spiritual and/or actual apathy or laziness. Sloth can also concern wasting due to lack of use or allowing entropy, expanding into almost any person, place, thing, skills, or intangible ideal that would require maintenance, refinement and/or support to continue to exist.

Sloth is a tricky one, because most people have a tendency to, at some point, want to slack off or shirk responsibilities. So when is a propensity to doing something actually considered a regularity or an overriding character flaw?


When I think of sloth I think of some slacker, with bad hygiene, living in a dump that spends their life just squeaking by. A slothful person is lazy, has no goals, no drive, no positive momentum, and really doesn’t contribute much to the whole scheme of things. But is it really that cut and dry?


Over the last 5 to 6 years work has gotten the majority of my attention, it has taken everything in me to remember that family, friends, and life outside of work is important. If there is apathy towards any portion of my life it is in my personal life, but that is perfectly acceptable right? Because I am a “successful” contributing member of society! I am single answerable to no one. I am a model to look up to in my work ethic and industry knowledge. I have a good portion of the material things that you are supposed to want to have, so I can’t possibly be slothful.


According to Tyler Durden (The beautiful chaos creator in Fight Club) “F*#k off with your sofa units and strine green stripe patterns, I say never be complete, I say stop being perfect, I say let... lets evolve, let the chips fall where they may.”


I tend to put all my efforts into one direction, while neglecting everything else. Entropy, a lack of pattern or organization, a tendency for all matter and energy in the universe to evolve toward a state of inert uniformity -this definition would contradict my model life and actually prove that I am very slothful. In almost every area of my life outside of work I am stagnant; I have pushed life to tomorrow or the day after. I neglect myself, my family, and friends so I can fulfill some crazy dream to be the best most successful girl on the planet.


So now another Tyler Durden quote, “a question of etiquette - as I pass, do I give you the ass or the crotch?” Ha ha…that one just makes me laugh the quote I really wanted to use is, “You have to know the answer to this question! If you died right now, how would you feel about your life?”


This is a question that I started asking myself after a kidney stone in 2006, after the mortgage meltdown in 2007, and have continued to ask myself over the last 5 months, I am a slow to act sometimes. This is a little scary because I can look back at major turning points, good and bad, in my life and they all started with that question. Even the road that lead me to my current situation was predicated by that query. So 5 months ago I looked at what we have now established as a very slothful existence, and decided I needed to make a change. If I died tomorrow I would feel that I had squandered, wasted, and misspent a good portion of the last 6 years (yes I know that all those words mean the same thing - I just thought I needed to say it three times).


I have made some major changes over the last 2 years / 3 months and I continue to push forward in my new less slothful life. It is truly hard though. It is so tantalizing to want to revert back to, an easy, work driven, uncomplicated, yet stressful existence. Life is messy, the more interaction you have with family, friends, and new people tends to bring overwhelming chaos to a rather dull but comfortable existence. I also hate cleaning my house so I need to make enough money to pay someone else to do it or I will still be slothful because my house won’t be clean. See the issues here….but I am striving to be more balanced and to be present in the lives of those around me.


Some of the changes:


I am strategically moving away from a job that I just exist in to a job I love


Taking time throughout the year to do things for myself and with my family and friends


Finding my purpose and passion and incorporating it in all that I do.


I can understand why sloth would be considered a sin, because it just seems like a travesty to squander life, and yet so easy to do. So check back in a year and let’s see if I have let the sloth monster gobble me back up or if I have continued on my “enlightened” path.



Don't forget to check out the other carnival members:



Huckdoll

Caffeine Court

Secrets of a Black Heart

CableGirl

25 Reasons I Owe My Mother

Another great email I had to share!! I wouldn't know much about this since I was such an angelic youth but I heard my mother & grandmother say these things to other kids. (If it was said to me it must have been by mistake there were a lot of kids growing up...easy to mix us up!)

It really was them I was just a conscientious instigator observer!!

1. My mother taught me TO APPRECIATE A JOB WELL DONE .
'If you're going to kill each other, do it outside. I just finished cleaning.'

2. My mother taught me RELIGION.
'You better pray that will come out of the carpet.'

3. My mother taught me about TIME TRAVEL .
'If you don't straighten up, I'm going to knock you into the middle of next week!'

4. My mother taught me LOGIC.
' Because I said so, that's why.'

5. My mother taught me MORE LOGIC .
'If you fall out of that swing and break your neck, you're not going to the store with me.'

6. My mother taught me FORESIGHT.
'Make sure you wear clean underwear, in case you're in an accident.'

7. My mother taught me IRONY
'Keep crying, and I'll give you something to cry about.'

8. My mother taught me about the science of OSMOSIS.
'Shut your mouth and eat your supper.'

9. My mother taught me about CONTORTIONISM .
'Will you look at that dirt on the back of your neck!'

10. My mother taught me about STAMINA.
'You'll sit there until all that spinach is gone.'

11. My mother taught me about WEATHER.
'This room of yours looks as if a tornado went through it.'

12. My mother taught me about HYPOCRISY.
'If I told you once, I've told you a million times. Don't exaggerate!'

13. My mother taught me the CIRCLE OF LIFE .
'I brought you into this world, and I can take you out.'

14. My mother taught me about BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION.
'Stop acting like your father!'

15. My mother taught me about ENVY.
'There are millions of less fortunate children in this world who don't have wonderful parents like you do.'

16. My mother taught me about ANTICIPATION.
'Just wait until we get home.'

17. My mother taught me about RECEIVING .
'You are going to get it when you get home!'

18. My mother taught me MEDICAL SCIENCE.
'If you don't stop crossing your eyes, they are going to freeze that way.'

19. My mother taught me ESP.
'Put your sweater on; don't you think I know when you are cold?'

20. My mother taught me HUMOR.
'When that lawn mower cuts off your foot, don't come running to me.'

21. My mother taught me HOW TO BECOME AN ADULT .
'If you don't eat your vegetables, you'll never grow up.'

22. My mother taught me GENETICS.
'You're just like your father.'

23. My mother taught me about my ROOTS.
'Shut that door behind you. Do you think you were born in a barn?'

24. My mother taught me WISDOM.
'When you get to be my age, you'll understand.'

25. And my favorite: My mother taught me about JUSTICE
'One day you'll have kids, and I hope they turn out just like you.'

Seven Deadly Sins

This big Internet/blog world is such an interesting place, each time I go exploring I run into something/someone new….I love it. Well a blog and blog-her I have found interesting is Huckdoll, met her on Cre8buzz and from there started checking out her blog posts. Last night she had a post on The Seven Deadly Sins, which is going to be an ongoing weekly commentary on how she fits into each sin. She apparently got the idea from the ladies at Caffeine Court and Secrets of a Black Heart. So I mosied on over to these blogs and of course I have now found two more blogs that I will be checking out on a regular basis – so many blogs so little time!! I also found this Seven Deadly Sins Carnival challenge intriguing. I have a hard time just throwing my personal life out there, but why not it could teach me something, and it just sounds like fun!! So I am starting with an easy one….can we say Chicken! (Love these chick pics...these are thanks to Mrs. Black Heart)

Gluttony denotes, not any desire of eating and drinking, but an inordinate desire... leaving the order of reason, wherein the good of moral virtue consists

So how am I gluttonous, well for those that know me they would say that this sin is the farthest from me. I embody many of the other seven deadlies, but my friends would say this one not so much….and this they would say because I am “a little thing.”

I don’t think you have to be big to be gluttonous so let’s break it down:

1. Inordinate; lacking restraint or moderation; too great or too many; immoderate
2. Desire; to wish or long for; crave; covet

I can be ridiculous about certain things, I call it stubborn or head strong, but maybe it is just gluttonous. I love things that are not good for me and in some cases loved them so much they have sent me to the doctor. My weaknesses are: mangoes, crab, li hing moi seeds, lemons, salt & vinegar potato chips, dried apricots/plums, and exotic food.

South American mangoes make my lips swell (I could use it in place of Botox…oops leave that one for vanity) my skin reacts to the oil on the skin of the mango like most people react to poison ivy. I love mangoes, will never give them up, so I just eat them a bit more carefully now. I have gone to the doctor twice for shots to bring down the swelling.

Lemons, crab, li hing moi seeds, and salt and vinegar potato chips give me the worst stomachaches ever, like an alien has laid some pod creature in my stomach and it is trying to bust its way out. Again I love these things and I will not give them up, I will deal with the stomach. No boys over on this night...oops vanity again I am going to have a lot to say on that one.

Dried apricot & plums make my throat itch and swell, but I continue to try new varietals hoping that I will find one that does not irritate my throat. I wasn’t allergic to them when I was younger and I refuse to be so now, I have practically beaten this one! This one nearly sent me to the emergency room three times.

Finally exotic foods, little miss adventurous here will try anything once, this one has kept me on the bathroom floor a few nights (wait was that the alcohol or the food?) expelling things that somehow looked better coming up then going down. Now what does that say to you about my gluttony quotient?

It is said that those who are condemned of the sin of gluttony must eat rats, toads, & snakes in hell. I have already eaten snake and frog's legs they tasted like chicken how bad can the rat be?

Since I just remembered –incredible that I could put this one out of my head it has given me so many embarrassing stories and nicknames, alcohol must definitely be added in with the rest of these. I spent the better part of my late teens and early twenties between a “buzz” and a hangover, there was definitely some gluttony there.

So like I said before I really don’t think weight has anything to do with this sin, I am gluttonous because I have an inordinate desire for these items. I lack restraint in my craving for these foods and I definitely do not partake in moderation. Well the exotic foods thing, there I do not gorge or over consume I merely try. You know what -this one I think should be in the pure stupidity category. Maybe there should be eight sins!

You Just Went Too Far Man!

I received this in an email and thought it was the best thing ever so I had to share...please enjoy!! (Warning may be too graphic for men to handle)

This is an ACTUAL letter from an Austin woman sent to Proctor and Gamble regarding their feminine products. She really gets rolling after the first paragraph. I about died laughing because it's very true - the words "Have a Happy Period" are really on the piece of paper that holds the wings together.

Dear Mr. Thatcher: I have been a loyal user of your maxi pads for over 20 years, and I appreciate many of their features. Why, without the Leak Guard Core or Dri Weave absorbency, I'd probably never go horseback riding or salsa dancing, and I'd certainly steer clear of running up and down the beach in tight, white shorts.

But my favorite feature has to be your revolutionary Flex-Wings. Kudos on being the only company smart enough to realize how crucial it is that maxi-pads be aerodynamic. I can't tell you how safe and secure I feel each month knowing there's a little F-16 in my pants.

Have you ever had a menstrual period, Mr. Thatcher? Ever suffered from the curse? I'm guessing you haven't. Well, my time of the month is starting right now. As I type, I can already feel hormonal forces violently surging through my body. Just a few minutes from now, my body will adjust and I'll be transformed into what my husband likes to call an inbred hillbilly with knife skills. Isn't the human body amazing?

As Brand manager in the Feminine Hygiene Division, you've no doubt seen quite a bit of research on what exactly happens during your customers' monthly visits from Aunt Flo. Therefore, you must know about the bloating, puffiness, and cramping we endure, and about our intense mood swings, crying jags, and out of control behavior. You surely realize it's a tough time for most women. In fact, only last week my friend Jennifer fought the violent urge to shove her boyfriend's testicles into a George Forman Grill just because he told her he thought Grey's Anatomy was written by drunken chimps. Crazy!

The point is, sir, you of all people must realize that America is just crawling with homicidal maniacs in Capri pants....which brings me to the reason for my letter.

Last month, while in the throes of cramping so painful I wanted to reach inside my body and yank out my uterus, I opened an Always maxi-pad, and there, printed on the adhesive backing, were these words: "Have a Happy Period."

Are you fu**in kidding me? What I mean is, does any part of your tiny middle-manager brain really think happiness, actually smiling, laughing happiness is possible during a menstrual period? did anything mentioned above sound the least bit pleasurable? Well, did it, James?

FYI - unless you're some kind of sick S&M freak girl, there will never be anything happy about a day in which you jack yourself up on Motrin and Kahlua and lock yourself in your house just so you don't march down to the local Walgreen's armed with a hunting rifle and a sketchy plan to end your life in a blaze of glory.

For the love of God, pull your head out, man! If you just have to slap a moronic message on a maxi-pad, wouldn't it make more sense to say something that's actually pertinent, like Put Down the Hammer or Vehicular Manslaughter is Wrong, or are you just picking on us?

Sir, please inform your Accounting Department that, effective immediately, there will be an $8 drop in monthly profits, for I have chose to take my maxi-pad business elsewhere. And though I will certainly miss your Flex-Wings, I will not for one minute miss your brand of condescending bull shy*t. and that's a promise I will keep Always.

Best, Wendi Aarons Austin,

TX PC Magazine's 2007 Editor's Choice for Best Webmail Award Winning Letter

What are you thinking About?

I just read a post on the So Cal Women of Arbonne’s blog page and I have to say it inspired me to write this post. The post is called Belief…What You Think About You Bring About written by Trish Kennedy. The title really says it all, the concept is not new and is seems to be growing in popularity every day, maybe there really is a shift in consciousness on the horizon. Oops, that kind of radical talk may get me thrown in with that Oprah cult. I better watch out Oprah’s cult may have me thinking that I can do anything I set my mind to, like become a successful multi-millionaire. Ouch who wants that? I better stay away! Sorry for the obnoxious rant I just get a bit worked up when people act like mindless idiotic sheep and spend their time knocking something positive that might help people.

Trish opens her blog with, ”Your life is not the result of the things you have done. It is the result of the things you have thought about.” So this next level thinking is saying that thoughts control your reality. Uh oh here comes that cult stuff! You can throw out the argument that people act contrary to their thoughts or have thoughts that never come to fruition all of the time. For example, a person that hates their job and continually day dreams about a hammock on the beach, but continues to go to work every day never getting the hammock on the beach. Yes, your thoughts are saying beach and your actions are saying work, but if we look deeper your thoughts are constantly negative and you use the beach as a dreamed escape, never really believing that you are going to make it there. So how can your life be positive? You probably do not get along with many people at work, haven’t had a raise since you started that miserable job, and you haven’t even thought about getting a job you might like! Thought “I am miserable and hate my job” result you are miserable and hate your job. Interesting how that works together isn’t it?

A new thought, “I want to go to a beach lay in a hammock for a week, and meet amazing people so I have a reason to go back next year.” Next thought; “Can I do that with this job?” Answer; “No” Action, get a new job that helps you obtain your goal, thus resulting in a job that you like and a week on the beach. So what started as a thought, moved into a belief, passed through into an action, and then turned into a reality. Thoughts = Reality.

I agree with you Trish I love this concept!

By the way I am reading that book A New Earth Awakening to Your Life’s Purpose by Eckhart Tolle, watch out it is the 100th monkey all over again!!

You can check out Trish’s blog at http://www.socalarbonne.blogspot.com/

A Get Smart Gal

Hello and thank you for visiting my blog page, my name is Bridget and I am one of the Get Smart Gals at Get Smart Women. I am a business owner in Sunny Southern California that has been in the banking industry for the last 6 years, specializing in residential, construction, and commercial lending. While working to build a successful lending business I also had the pleasure of creating unique and highly effective business systems. As the lending and business building are intertwined I have been able to create two businesses that allow me to help individuals and business owners achieve their financial, retirement, and life goals.

My mission, as a mortgage planner, has been to guide my clients through the loan process with integrity, respect, and close attention to their needs. My goal is to put my clients on the road to financial wellness. Through my studies in finance and the knowledge and support of an incredible team I have been able to create a system that gives my clients and business partners the smoothest transactions possible. Although I have personally been in the mortgage industry for 6 years my team collectively has over 65 years of experience, which I draw on to help my clients achieve their home financing goals. With each successful transaction we create and build a relationship to be fostered and maintained. It is through these relationships that nearly 100% of our business is referrals from satisfied clients, trusted financial advisors and the most experienced Realtors and builders in Southern California. We are located in one of the most beautiful San Diego Coastal Communities however we can provide Home Financing in all 50 States.

My mission as a business consultant is to empower people to achieve their goals, realize their dreams, and live their passion. In Get Smart Women we have created an educational, interactive, and client focused business platform that allows individuals to create income streams that compliment their desired lifestyle. Get Smart Women is a consulting and coaching company, with among other things a 'by subscription/members only' website that specializes in providing detailed information for women interested in starting, growing, and increasing their presence in the business world . Through consulting GSW delivers updated news, private discussion groups, coaching and merchandise available for women interested in creating and increasing their primary and passive income streams. GSW started by teaching women, and in the near future, all business owners how to utilize the Internet to start, increase, and supplement their business strategies. In particular, potential and existing business owners are taught Internet based business structures, marketing and advertising platforms, as well as Web 2.0 technology.

So now how to do I take what I am passionate about and turn that into dual enterprises, something that I can do that will also create income for me? Can I have my cake and eat it to? What I mean is can I do what I love in business creation and building, stay in the mortgage industry, and still do all of the other things that are important to me? Like spending time with my family, traveling, adrenaline activities, flying, pilates, krav maga….ok it’s a long list I have a lot left to do! So you ask how can I do it all? Well that is where the internet comes in, and the epiphany that has changed my life. It started in November 2006 with a video email service that helped me communicate with my clients and strategic business partners, it was reinforced by a book written by David R Hawkins Ph.D., and then solidified by a book written by Timothy Ferriss.

The streaming video company was Digital FX Network, the first book was Power VS. Force, the second book was The 4-Hour Work Week, all of these things as well as quite a few other contributors helped me realize that all the things I was doing could be enhanced with an internet based consulting company. The internet has been growing by leaps and bounds since its inception, and now you do not have to be a computer programmer to figure it out, now you just need to spend time understanding its inner workings and you can capitalize off of its immense income producing potentials.

That is where Get Smart Women was born, I have been consulting those in the real estate industry for years on how to take their businesses to the next level with digital networking and advertising and now I would like to take that to the masses through the internet. Our first sojourn is with women entrepreneurs and those women who do not know they are entrepreneurs yet, then the World!!

One of my favorite cartoons is Pinky and the Brain and my favorite comic strip is Calvin and Hobbs so watch out!!