Thinking Feeling

Ok, I don't know exactly how to say what it is right now that I am feeling, so I am just going to say it.

I feel like I am destined for great things.

Even in my "struggles" (And I "quote" that because, compared to many in this world, my struggles would be a walk in the park!) I still have hope. Like, I don't know when or how (Like, seriously, HOW?!?) I'm going to get through some of these labyrinth pathways that are forced in front of me, but I can see a light coming from somewhere!

I'm an artist. I know, it's hard to see, seeing I dropped -- err, flunked (heh heh ... ) out of art college. And what have I done in the past year since being out of school? Oh, maybe a painting. But I still feel called to it. Well, I feel called to something ... I dunno. Just called.

All I know is that God is far from finished with me. And He's taking care of me. And He's got great things in store for me! And I also know that I desperately need to get in touch with Him again. Because, I miss Him. And I am sure He misses me more than I could ever know.

And then these things, like being better to my body -- the temple of His Holy Spirit; and putting less value in secular consumerist things, and more value in genuine relationships, and love, and joy (!!) will come much easier. At least I hope.

And these worries, and these desires of my heart, like a husband, a family, a home of my own, a garden to provide for my family, they'll all come.

I think I know where I have to start. I'm signed up for the Intro to Health Basics Class, and I'm going to join Pottery. But I need a better handle on my finances, this I know! And, most importantly, I need to get back in with the church. I've found a church I like! And I go every other Sunday -- because right now that's all I get off! But I need a community again. And, it's not surprising that this is the hardest of these challenges for me to face right now. (Ok, so maybe the finances too ... but I know what I have to do there! And it's just plain ol' not be stupid!)

...

So sorry if I lost you in all this mess. Believe it or not though, for me, it kinda helped.

... I think,

Yeah, we'll leave it at that.

Lazy Blog, No.2

Ok, my brain is fried ... I have drafts for entries started, but, brain, fried, you know. However! I want to keep in the habit of writing. So, another Lazy Blog. Enjoy ...

Dudes I just had a cup of tea and realised I have not updated this since you last visited... You would not believe I spend all my time in front of a computer. Seriously!.

I am totally exhausted with an awfully big adventure, being distracted by the shiny, just generally being asleep, dreaming and chancing to society in general, my day is passing in a blur from sun-up to I feel like going to bed. I am plotting and planning. life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're going to get.

I won't promise anything to you but I will update you with my nefarious activities as soon as I get a chance. Go with God, good friends. Cats if you don't..

Um, g'night! (Maybe I'll post something more interesting tomorrow!)

Good Day, Bad Day

Wow, I have had a long blur of a day! I'll share -- what I can remember of it -- with you ... let's start with the good news!

Today was my first day at a new job -- well, half day. I am now an associate at the PictureMe Portrait Studio in Wal-Mart! I am very excited about this, as I love kids first of all, and I love photography! I'm excited to learn all kinds of tips and tricks about taking good portraits! I pretty much just got to shadow today, but getting to know some of the other people I will be working with was great -- we seem to get along pretty well already!

Now onto some bad news for the day ...

I knew the day was coming too. See, I had a follow-up appointment with my doctor today, to review some bloodwork I had done last week. And all my bloodwork came back perfectly normal, which is a good thing, except he told me that I --

Need.
To lose.
Weight.

... lots.

Weight and body image has always been something I've struggled with -- and wanted to do something about -- but have never really actually done anything about it! But now I have a stack of homework to read, and papers to keep track of my diet on, and a food guide to follow, and labels to read, and exercise to track! Wow, it all seems so overwhelming right now!

Any encouragement and advice you have for me would be great -- oh! And I also want to ask for any easy-to-make, inexpensive, and healthy recipes you may have! (I say inexpensive because my sister and I rent together, and share the food bill.)

I'll blog about this again in a couple days -- I'm gonna get Sister to take some "Before" photos of me, and I might share those too. (I'm just trying to be real about it, right?) I'll share numbers, what I got from my "homework" and what I have planned. Ok? Ok!

Talk soon!

First Follower!

Hooray blog friends! I have my first official follower!

Mama Mel, I love your blog! Thank you so much for following me; I hope that you find the random ramblings of my mind interesting, insightful, and even inspiring!

When I come up with a button for an "I <3 You!" award, you will be the first to get one!


I quite like it myself!

Edit: The code is up on the side panel now; help yourself!

Grrr!! Why?! ;D

Ok, can you see what my banner looks like there?! Can you see it?! It's lovely -- I love the pinwheel photo. But why is it WAY OVER like that?! Ugh! Sotrustrating. :(
Edit: I seem to have muddled and fixed it a bit. I think I did ok!

I've been viewing a lot of blogs through SITS, and some of them are just so beautiful! And I want my blog to beautiful too ... not plain like it is. So, help with formatting would be very nice ... anyone? Please?
More Edit!: I found ShabbyBlogs via Farmgirl Paints (thankyoo!) and found a nice background. I am pleased. ^^ Now, I just need to tidy up formatting, and that! I may need help with! ;D

... and while we're here, I guess I could explain. Why. I chose to call my blog "From Another Angle" It's quite simple really: I couldn't think of anything else! Haha, true story! I'm pretty indecisive about things -- well, everything. And I also like the song "Sensitive" by Jewel ...

Maybe if we are surrounded in beauty,
Someday we will become what we see.
'Cause anyone can start a conflict,
It's harder yet to disregard it.
I'd rather see the world from another angle;
We are everyday angels.
Be careful with me 'cause I'd like to stay that way.

It's a really sweet song, and I like to think of myself as that innocent person, that sees things from a different perspective, and tries to see the good in all things, that she sings about in the song.

Anyway, yes, any help, advice, whatever you've got to make my blog more awesometastic, is appreciated! Please and thank you!

And as for myself, I am going to go do some heavy duty reading over at David's Blog to get some insight on my own 100 Thing Challenge! I'll share my good finds!

Oh, and have you noticed? I looove using exclamation marks! If you knew me in person, you'd think I was an exclamation mark!

Stuff!!

I've been inspired recently by various articles on Boundless, and TIME's Cheapskate Blog -- which exact articles, I don't quite remember -- to take up a simpler life. Oh, and let's not forget to mention George Carlin's talk about "stuff!"

(This is a great video, BTW. One I never would have found had it not been for my Dad's impression of Carlin's Hippy Dippy Weather Man.)

(Note: I also found this article on the TIME website, published last year!)

That's right, we're talking about "stuff" here. Now I am more than willing to admit: I have a lot of stuff! And I've become more aware of it. It has become more apparent to me in recent months (and years, decluttering from my childhood.) that a lot of my stuff is useless, pointless, or really unnecessary.

I was introduced to an idea: what if I were to downsize all my personal possessions to only 100 items? Some of you are thinking, sounds easy enough! while others, Ha! Gooooood luck! Luck may be what I need, along with some wisdom, and anti-consumeristic thinking! This may be the exact solution to my "Stuff Problem" that I've been searching for!

Further Googleing revealed to me that this movement called "The 100 Thing Challenge" was spurred by David Bruno; it's "[his] little way of personalizing [his] efforts to fight consumerism." (You can follow his efforts over at his blog.) David also has a Facebook Group devoted to the "100 Thing Challenge", along with a Fan Page! You are encouraged to check these out!

And, of course, let's not forget, it's not earthly possessions that make our hearts truly happy!

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
[Matthew 6:19-21 (NIV)]

So, what's next in this process of downsizing my stuff to only 100 things? I'll need to make some rules and guidelines. Keep reading!

Lazy Blog

Ok, I know I promised a new post tonight, but with all the cleaning, and getting out with people today (which was very good for me!) I really never found the time to finish up the blog post I have in the works.

So, instead, you get a special treat! Jen over at the Cake Wrecks blog shared this gem via Twitter: The Lazy Bloggers Post Generator. Since it appears that I am being lazy this week, I decided to give it a go!

Holy Snapping Duck Do! I just climbed out from under my rock and realised I have not updated this since people stopped clapping and Tinkerbell died... You would not believe the fairy dust I have to clean up. Stupid Global Warming!.

I am devastated with my tan, a ticking crocodile, just generally being a nuisance to the taxman, my day seems to be a litany of stuff and giggles from mid-morning to well after sun-down. I am not complaining though. maybe tomorrow.

I won't promise anything to you but I will update you with my nefarious activities as soon as I get a chance. No, really! This is for my ever faithful, devoted public..

Well, there you go! That was slightly fun! I may have to do that again some time!

My Life: Barenaked Ladies Style!

So I stole this fun little survey from Facebook -- via Keila. (thankyou Keila!) And apparently I have to answer questions of "my life" with the names of songs written by a favourite band; so I chose the Barenaked Ladies -- of course I chose the Barenaked Ladies!! So, here we go!


Are you male or female?: I'll Be That Girl

How do you feel?: Some Fantastic

Describe where you currently live: The Old Apartment

If you could go anywhere, where would you go?: Crazy

Your favorite form of transportation: In The Car

Your best friend is: It's Only Me (The Wizard of Magicland)

You and your best friends are: Have You Seen My Love?

What's the weather like?: Allergies

Favorite time of day: Snacktime!

If your life was a TV show, what would it be called?: Life, in a Nutshell

What is life to you?: Beautiful

You biggest fear: What a Letdown

What is the best advice you have to give?: Rule the World with Love

Thought for the Day: Thanks, That Was Fun

How you would like to die: When I Fall

Your soul's present condition: Unfinished

Most Faithful Companion: Maybe Katie

Your Motto: The Humour of the Situation


So, there you have it! This was really fun, and I feel very creative!

Introducing Sherlock and Watson!

Meet Sherlock and Watson ...


These adorable little fuzzballs have been calling the terrarium in my basement apartment bedroom home now for just under one month. Since June 18th, to be exact!


Sherlock is the tan one, and also the more feisty of the two. I'm pretty sure he's drawn blood from my fingers more than any other animals I've had ... combined, hands down. And I am sure there will be more (minor) bloodshed before he's completely tamed. (I did actually manage to hold him two days ago! I was very impressed!)


This little dark gray chubster is Watson! He's definitely the more docile of the two. I can manage to hold him on occasion, but he's got this idea in his head that I am a tasty snack! (He has the best of intentions; Sherlock, not so much. His aim: hurt!)

You can expect more pictures and posts from Sherlock and Watson in the future! So keep reading!

And! While you're at it! Please play with my Blog Fish! (They're at the bottom of the right column!) Sure, they're just virtual fish, but they are always hungry!

Welcome Back!

Hello world!

Some of you know that I used to "blog" quite a bit here. And other sites as well. And about anything and everything. Also, a lot of it was very personal.

Well, I am back now! I've deleted old posts, save some that I do like -- and those I have edited -- and I'm starting fresh! What will this blog be about?! Well, I have decided that I am no longer going to write as much about what is going on in my personal life. Doing so in the past had negative repercussions in some ways, and I've learned to protect myself a little better. :) Anything personal now, and I just talk to my close friends and family, and they support me. That's one of the things I love best about them!

So, what can you expect? Well, here's some upcoming subjects I'd like to talk about:
* All the Rainbows in my Life
* Sherlock and Watson
* Camera Obscura
* Etsy Smells (I don't really think that -- but things from Etsy smell like the homes they come from, and I try to describe the smell!)
* Online Shopping Awesomeness

And you can trust me when I say, there will be more! That's all I can remember for the time being, however. ^^;

Also, please follow my other blog, viva Ceramica! It is postless now, but I will be posting to it soon! I am also on Facebook, and Twitter! In the near future, I'm aiming to sell some artwork and prints on Etsy! And, eventually, some day, I will have news for you about my official artist website.

That's right, folks. This is just the beginning! ;)

I'll write again soon! - Tammy