How are we "making it?"

I, just like all of us right now, am struggling financially. Filling up the gas tank of my little Honda Civic is hard enough. I cannot even presume to imagine what those that have cars larger than mine are dealing with when they go to the gas station.
I don't think it's a societal/class issue at this point. I think, financially, we're ALL suffering. But, SHIT ... it's beyond belief what I'm paying for my daily commute (6 days a week), taxes out the Hoo Hoo that still don't seem to be helping those same roads that were supposed to be fixed, the new transit station in Mountlake Terrace on I-5, Mercer Street "redo".
So, what's happening to children's play areas that are being shut down?
Why, if the reason that they were shut down is to help the traffic/commute cause, are these "PROFESSED" areas of interest not getting any attention or major upgrades?
Throw a commuter a bone ...
Especially one that hates those that sit idle in the far left lane.
xoxo,
anna

Oh HOLLER!!!! A fabulous "foodie" blog ...

Well, paint me yellow and call me "slap-happy!"
Miss Luchie ... one of my best girlfriends from our "Cancer Club" ... has decided to start a blog based upon her love of food. This woman posts pictures of what she cooks every night. To say it's AMAZING is lame. She is the ultimate "Foodie." I see pics of her dinners and I want to smack her ... LIKE, REALLY HARD. She has this instinctual pallet. And, she loves to cook.
Sooooooo ... Go visit this blog folks. She's one of my favorite bad-asses EVER. AND, I LOVER HER DEARLY.
I am, personally, gonna attempt to try her recipes ... even if they don't include collard greens and sharp cheddar cheese.

http://unseasonedfoodie.com/

xoxo,
Anna

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SWEET SILAS ...

Wow ... what a long and fabulous weekend!!!!! Mister Mosey turned 5 yesterday. Would have blogged, but we had much more fun things to do! So, I'm a day late on the "Birthday Blog." I think that is pretty telling ... in a great way.
Saturday was spent with friends and family celebrating the most amazing BIG BOY'S 5th birthday. We had an amazing time swimming at our hotel. We, then met up with our pals at Buca De Beppo. All I can say is that we were all in a coma after all of the fabulous food and wine. The boys ate their weight in cake. The adults needed wheel barrows to get our asses out of our chairs. It was such an amazing birthday for my little man.
Thanks so, so much to our amazing pals and family for all of the sweet calls and presents.
Thank you Grammie and Grandaddy for all of your love and support for the birthday celebration!!!!!
xoxo,
Anna

Possibly one of the best monologues of all time...

Seventeen days after Spencer Tracy wrapped Guess Who's Coming to Dinner, he died. He and Katharine Hepburn were a love for the ages. You can see, as he's delivering the monologue, that she understands that:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Yt0wxoFl4o

It's such a lovely, lovely piece.
xoxo
Anna

A Candle Loses Nothing By Lighting Another Candle...

Godspeed Mohammad Nabbous ...

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/world/2011/03/20/nr.nabbous.libya.dead.cnn?hpt=C2


xoxo,
Anna

Why is it so hard ....

.... To figure this nonsense out????
So many animals are out there ... in shelters. Some shelters are "Kill Shelters" Some are "No Kill Shelters." But, they are ALL becoming swamped with animals right now.
These poor creatures never chose to be bred/born/neglected.
There are enough of these sweet peas to go around ... TWENTY MILLION FOLD.
All of my pets are rescues. I don't judge a pal that, truly, wants a pure bred pup. I, absolutely, understand that.
But, stats show that mixed bred dogs (especially those that are spayed and neutered) live a longer and healthier life than pure breds.
Soooooo .... if you are open to adoption/rescue, I would suggest looking into shelters that are considered "kill shelters." It's sad but true: you'd be saving a life. But, if it's more convenient for you, ANY shelter is better than continuing to propagate the population of dogs and cats right now. We need to reel in this incessant breeding of animals. Many of which are bought/gifts and end up thrown to a curb.
Not to sound like Bob Barker. But, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE spay/neuter your pets.
xoxo,
Anna

Carol "Nacho" Franco's 5th Cancerversary Party...

This is Carol. Carol is dancing ... with me. This is us LIVING and celebrating her 5 year cancerversary at AN AMAZING party at O'Asian last weekend.
Carol is one of my dearest girlfriends and a HUGE source of comfort, support, and love. She's been in my world for over 4 years now. She's been one of the dearest friends/sisters that I've ever had the pleasure of getting to know.
This woman will go to bat FOR ANYONE in whom she believes. She is generous ... almost to a fault. I'd welcome her into my foxhole anytime. She has a gal's back ... for true.
I look forward to the next 50 years of dear sisterhood with My Nacho. The laughs, alone, are worth it ... much less the entirety of her person. You are, truly, beautiful Mama. Inside and out.
I love you Nacho!
xoxo
Cooch

Moving up, up, and AWAYYYYY.....

Whelp ...



Gonna share what's been going on in my world ... for some time now. Over a year actually.
Last February, I left my husband. It had been a long time coming. A LONG TIME.
Silas and I, as has been shared, moved to Mountlake Terrace. My cousin Don has been a dear pal of mine since I was a baby girl. He welcomed us into his home with LONG-STRETCHED AND OPEN arms.
This past year has been long, long, long AND hard, hard, hard.
I've spent the better part of 2 years, solely, supporting myself and my son. This past year has proven that there was much more underlying "stuffs" that I was not made aware of.
So, I've dug in deep this year and have had to put my head down and regroup. I've had to let go of that lost "perfect" credit score. Let go of a co-whatever. Let go of depending on what promises were made. Let go of many things that were taken from me when I wasn't looking... let go of MANY shocking things that have, most certainly, affected how my son and I will be able to live our lives for some years.
And guess what????? I'm fine with them being gone, now.
WE'VE MADE IT!!!!
I could spend days upon days spewing what my son and I have been put through.
I chose not to do so. Divorce papers are, FINALLY, signed. THANK GOD!
To share what's in them isn't for this blog.
I don't think it's worth it.
Anyone that has been in our world for 2 or 3 years is more than well aware of the situation.
What I can say is that Silas & I have spent the past few years being held in the hearts of our most precious and dear friends and families. There is NO amount of thanks and gratitude that could convey the appreciation that I want to share with them. We've been enveloped ... FROM COAST TO COAST ... by these ethereal people.
I try, daily, to "pay it forward" in any way I can.
Honestly, that might just mean that I sit, topless, at a street corner and show the aftermath of breast cancer reconstruction after a breast cancer diagnosis. If that's all I've got ... I'll go with it.
Though I have nothing at this point, I have NOTHING to lose.
So, I might very well be better off than most. In that, My Mr. Mosey and I are the richest Duo in the Universe!!!!!
xoxo
Anna
p.s. Thanks, again, to everyone. I love ya'll to THE MOON AND BACK!

Blessed Japan...

The past few days have haunted me ... and, I know they've haunted the rest of the world. The absolute terror that everyone in that beautiful country has experienced is unbelievable. The sight of mass destruction and the helpless looks on the victims' faces is heartbreaking. Seeing people, young and old, wandering down muddy and shattered streets is awe inspiring. And, not in a good way ...
Today, CNN and an "expert" from Columbia University shared the following information:

The number of nuclear workers who remained on site has been slashed from 800 to 50.
"Their situation is not great," said David Brenner, director of the Center for Radiological Research at Columbia University. "It's pretty clear that they will be getting very high doses of radiation. There's certainly the potential for lethal doses of radiation. They know it, and I think you have to call these people heroes."

Now, I've been exposed to more radiation than most individuals could experience in MANY lifetimes. Hell, I've set Geiger Counters off in the past.
But, NEVER EVER, did I choose to do it of my of volition. I was dealing with cancer. These 50 people have CHOSEN to stay. They've chosen to stay to help protect everyone in their country AND ON THIS PLANET who might be affected by this potential disaster.
And, as a consequence, they may pay with their lives. They are, obviously, aware of the repercussions. They have chosen to stay.
The word HERO doesn't even begin to sum these individuals up.
As much as I fear the outcome of their choice ... and, it sounds more probable than not ... I am in awe at being able to witness such an act of selflessness.
Should be a lesson to us all.
xoxo,
Anna

Sweet Grandma Flint...

This weekend I learned that my sweet co-worker's Grandmama is dying. It hurts my heart and soul to hear this, as I've know him since I started working at Salon Joseph. From day one, he has spoken of his Grandmama. He would take breaks to go hang out with her. She has been a pillar for him. A force of strength and council. I imagine that she will, forever, be one of his best friends.
I understand this, greatly. My grandparents were always such a huge force: support, love, cheer-leaders. I could have NEVER dreamed of better grandparents.
I know Jonathan's heart is broken. I know he knows she will not be with us, here on earth, much longer. But, what I do KNOW is that she will ALWAYS be with him and those she loves.
There is no doubt in my mind.
Godspeed sweet girl. You've been and will continue to be, infinitely, loved and adored.
My love and prayers are with his family right now.
Please send a prayer or a good vibe their way.
Thank you.
xoxo
Anna

Getting my Ladytron on ...

I've been dealing with a kitty that decides to MEWL ALL NIGHT LONG.....
Gotta switch out his food, or something, as it makes for a long night. Until then, I'm up. So, I'm enjoying this bit of goodness from a band I adore.
"I'm Not Scared" could hold an enumerate amount of meanings, considering the lyrics.
For me, it reminds me that I can always regroup and go to my core: family, friends, co-workers, pets, clients, that dude at the Shell station that always asks me if I'm doing well, & my sweet angels that are, most definitely, here with ALL of us.

I'M NOT SCARED:
"January clipped your wires.
The summer went straight through your tires.
Every faded sign that past you.
Used to point the way towards you.
Lately you've come to enjoy, the generosity of strangers.
The mechanisms you implore, and they have gone.
You know, that I'm not scared to go home.
They may have got you known, know that I'm not scared to go home.
Light aircraft they over fly you.
Instruments they veer towards you.
Every fallen star that past you, used to fall all around you.
Maybe you've come to rely,
on the generosity of stangers.
The mechanisms you implore, and they have gone.
You know that I'm not scared to go home, they may have got you known, know that I'm not scared to go home.
January clipped your wires.
The summer went straight through your tires.
Every faded sign that past you.
Used to point the way towards you.
Lately you've come to enjoy, the generosity of strangers.
The mechanisms you implore, and they have gone.
You know that I'm not scared to go home, they may have got you known, know that I'm not scared to go home.
To go home.
To go home.
To go home."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUipq2rbY4U&feature=related


Dear Lord ... Let the cat sleep, already!!!!!
xoxo
Anna