Next new MOVE

I am moving to NYC! I cannot believe it. I am so excited I feel like I'm going to jump out of my skin. Of course there are things I will miss about SoCal, but I'm ready to jump into this new adventure, chapter, or whatever I will make of NYC. I have been super(Nod to Julie and Andris)blessed with an awesome life. All I can say is it has been fun peeps, but it is time for this little birdie to spread her wings and fly.

Walking slowly

I have purposefully walking slowly the last few months to make an effort to stop and smell the roses. There have been a few major events in the past few months which have made me realize the need for the roses. In life there are no second chances and things happen for a reason even when we cannot see or understand the reason.

I wanted to share some of my more recent beautiful moments which have been just in the last week. These moments are fleeting yet last forever in memories and feel as if they are burned into your heart.

Boston
I was walking through the city with a coworker and we stopped to look at real estate photos. A nice stranger saw us looking at the ads and suggested a better website to get great deals. It was just the pure conversation that was not complicated. It was the surprise of my coworker who is very shy.

I got kicked out of Fenway Park trying to snap pictures of inside the park. I am not usually that adventurous but I was sneaking into the side bay and was told I was not allowed in.

NYC
I did something I feared for three months now. I met with Jeffery's younger brother while I was visiting New York. I had attempt twice prior but failed and these moments I shared with Darnell were very healing for me. The moment I looked at him and I saw Jeffery's smile. The moment he spoke about food and how he was a picky eater just like Jeffery. I was reminded by this family's pureness and great heart. I am extremely thankful I took the time to sit and talk with Darnell about our lovely lovely Jeffery.
My second great moment was Dean Martin and rain drops from cabbie splashes. I was walking in the rain Sunday and listening to Dean Martin while I huddled up with and umbrella and waited to cross the street when a few cabbies drove by splashing water into the air and the fell again to the ground. It was extremely magical and I felt as if the water floated in the air for a few seconds.

I am blessed in this life and I look forward to every single day where and when I get to live life by the moment. The majority of the time I am alone when I have these moments. Yeah I maybe be with someone when it happens but I feel alone in the universe with God and he gives me these moments to remind me I'm not alone but he is with me.

Why is it easier to believe in a third world country?

I wrote this a while ago, I'm just posting now.

I was thinking today about this subject. Why is it that I live in the most blessed country in the world and yet it is hard to see and count those blessings? I have maybe three reasons; 1)we have our basic needs met, 2)we have idol hands and minds, and 3) we feel entitled. I have personally struggled with my faith once I returned to the United States. I felt as if how could a people so blessed not have faith when I first got back and now I feel all caught in the rat race again.

Here in the United States we all have our basic needs met. We have housing or at least places to sleep at night if you are homeless. We have food easily accessible and 24 hour electricity. Yes I agree there are people who are hurting in this country, but in the third world the normal is to not have 24 hour electricity, or food easily accessible or even a home to sleep in. When your daily activities are all geared to just basic survival then you truly appreciate the true joys in life.

With all of our basic needs filled, we spend out time with idol things. The fancy car, the 4 wheeler, the boat, the big house are all things that distract us from our faith and belief. Our idol hands and minds lead us to forget who is truly providing on a daily bases for us.

Maybe a Reason California is going broke

This is a story about a girl in California who started her week the normal happy way with the sun shining and the music coming from the radio.

I was driving down the road and all of a sudden I get pulled over. It was my first time getting pulled over in California. Yes I was speeding so that is what i was being pulled over for, but no. I was being pulled over for a warrant for my arrest. These were the words used by the LA sheriff. I begin freaking out.

My first thoughts went to my debt. I thought maybe I missed a payment, maybe there was something else I was missing debt wise. I was totally confused as to what was going on. Then the officer comes back with my ID and my paperwork. He asks me who is "Antonio Jermaine". I have no clue who that was.

So my first reaction was to find out what the heck was going on. I started my librarian super research detective skills. I found out that the warrant was placed on my license plate last November for a ticket that was issued to the previous owner of my car for only having a license plate in the back. This was corrected but the previous owner did not report it was corrected so the city of LA issued a warrant for this persons arrest.

This was all discovered through multiple phone calls and multiple trips to the police station. Now it is a week later and the warrant is still attached to my license plate and the solution that the police have is for me to change my license plate number. This will cost me money and time to visit the DMV. The police did have a quicker solution if I go to AAA and let them deal with the new plates and the registration for the new year.

Before I can do that I need to get a smog check and to do that I need to get an oil change and maintenance done. To top it all off I need to get new tires that is the side note.

In my opinion, California is going broke because they are wasting time with rediculous warrants for a missing from license plate instead of solving the larger challenges the state faces like unemployment, education or crappy roads.

"American Dream"

Well yesterday was a great day of inspiration for me.

Over the last year I have been feeling lost, swamped overwhelmed with opportunities, and displaced. Yesterday I found some clarity.

I have been struggling with finding a balance between work and my passion for helping people. Maybe it is just my struggle with the American lifestyle. Don't get me wrong, I love America and I feel very blessed to live in this country. I feel that the "American Dream" has been sold to consumerism.

My "American Dream" is vastly different from that I was told my whole childhood should happen. Go to school, get a good job and then magically Mr. Right will fall into your life, then happy suburbia will ensue. Well, that has not happened in my life. I went to school, I got good grades, I went to college got good grade and now have a great career. Then why oh why am I feeling lost. What was missing from my parents "American Dream" Yeah Mr. Right has not falling into my life, but many many Mr. Possibles have.

With all that said, I found clarity yesterday and started to realize what I want MY "American Dream" to be. I want a mix of work and play. Life balance, but a balance where my play feeds my soul and allows me to help other people in third world countries. I want to learn about their lives and what they need to succeed. I am making a vow to travel outside of my home country each year to help in third world countries.

Stay tuned for more insights into my new "American Dream"