Today...

Yesterday, my sister asked, "I've been checking your blog... what happened? You haven't posted anything for two days." I looked back at her and said, "I don't know... I haven't had it..." So, yes, the reason why I haven't been posting everyday is because I haven't had it... My head has been consumed with so many things on my "To Do" list that I haven't had it. But, today... today is a special day and, today, I have it...

I had a dream... I had a dream that I woke up in the morning, put a white dress on, and went to the church to get married... Then, I woke up and realized that I did get up, put a white dress on, went to the church, and got married. Today, I got married! Today is also my husband's birthday... it was an unforgettable birthday!

Today, I went from being a Ms. to a Mrs... and I feel... protected. It's the only word I can use to describe having Armen in my life and, now, as my husband...

We have a song... I actually sang this song for Armen and recorded it on a cd for him about 8 years ago... And, today, as I listen to this song, my heart is filled with happiness and my eyes filled with tears...

Happy Birthday to my "husband"! You are all that is good in my life and I am so lucky to be your wife, today...

"Cuz I miss you body and soul so strong that it takes my breath away, and I breathe you into my heart and pray for the strength to stand today... Cuz I love you, whether it's wrong or right... Though I can't be with you tonight, you know my heart is by your side." Daniel Beddingfield

My Weakness

There are so many thoughts that run through my head throughout the day that are worth blogging about... There are so many that when I find the time to get to it, it's all fuzzy in my head because they've overlapped so much...

My thoughts have been overlapping a lot lately... I've been here... I've been there... and, sometimes, I've been anywhere else but here... Right now, I'm here and... I'm with you...

No matter where you are, I'm with you... my thoughts are overlapping with you in them. You are what's with me at this moment and, right now, you're all there is...

Today, Armen and I went to speak with a priest about our marriage ceremony. We had been talking about it for a while but hadn't gotten to it yet. Well, today, we found one... and, after setting up the schedule and signing with him, he mentioned that we needed to take "marriage counseling" classes with him, before the ceremony. So, we both nodded our heads and agreed to it, considering that there was one week until the big day. We also agreed to taking our first class right then and there.

"Where were you born?" "How did you first meet?" were some of the questions we were asked. Then, he asked, "What do you like about Armen? Why do you want him to be your husband?" I stared back at him, feeling like I was in a movie, and said, "Well, he's honest, loyal, caring, smart... he's the best man I've ever met... and... he loves me so much..." "Do you love him?" he asked. "Yes, I do..." I answered. Then, he said, "Okay, what don't you like about him?" I sat there and thought about it for a second and said, "He's stubborn... and he needs to communicate more." The priest began to talk with Armen about communication and how important it was as I looked over at him and smiled, all the while laughing so hard inside. Then, he turned back to me and said, "Do you trust him?" and I replied, "Yes, I do... I trust him more than I trust myself."

He moved onto Armen asking him the same exact questions. His answers were predictable as I listened... Then, he answered, "Yes, I trust her more than I trust myself..." Right then, I knew I was right about him all along and that he was also trying to communicate with me.

For me, this husband and wife thing is about everything right, wrong, good, and bad with each other. The bad communication, stubbornness, love, and trust combined makes "us"... That's how we're built and as we move forward, we will try to make ourselves more stable and sturdy.

So, tonight, with all these overlapping thoughts, I wish I could share my thoughts about you to make my life more sturdy... but, all things built have a weakness, and you are mine...

Thank You!

Personalize a thank you

10 Days Away...

I sit here, in the kitchen, with jello... red, orange, and green jello... Actually, I threw the green part away because it tasted like medicine...

I know I said I'd be starting another year of this... I've been hesitant... but... now I'm here and I'm focused. I will be doing this everyday for as long as it takes for me to be content... content with my world, my thoughts, and my words...

There are exactly 10 days left until my wedding day... and I know that because I have an actual countdown on the mirror in my room. I cross it off every morning as I get ready for the day. In exactly 10 days, I will have a husband, I will be in my wedding dress, I will be throwing my bouquet, and I will be a bride. I've thought about this for a long time... I was never that little girl that dreamt about her wedding day but, I've been thinking about my wedding day for the past couple of years now and, now, it's 10 days away... The invitations have been sent out, the checks have been signed, the dress has been sewn, and I... I feel unexplainable...

The lady that was in the hospital died... My grandma hated black. She despised that color. Every time she'd see one of us wearing anything black, she'd say, "Don't you have any other color to wear? I'm going to take that off of you and tear it up!" We'd just react by not taking her seriously and shrugging our shoulders. Now, today, as I take my black clothes off, I realize why she hated it so much... Now, I despise the color black and I can't wait to wear my white dress in 10 days. I wish she could see me in it...

I'm glad they don't have black jello... I like colorful jello... except green. I realize that people are like jello... they come in different colors, shapes, and forms but... we can't take the green out of people. We have to take all they've got, the red, orange, and green, and, sometimes, even their black. That's what makes life interesting... all the different colors. Without it, jello would be clear and clear jello would have no flavor. So, with all of life's flavors these days, I can't wait for my feast that's 10 days away...

"For attractive lips, speak words of kindness. For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people. For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry. For poise, walk with knowledge that you will never walk alone. People, even more than things have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed. Never throw out anyone." ♥ Audrey Hepburn

Life Happens... Another Everyday...

"Peacocks" Tierra Del Sol Student

Today I found out that a friend's mom is in the hospital, on life support... With all that's going on these days, I haven't been smiling much... I've been very... neutral... i guess... The odd thing is that, lately, when I start crying, I can't stop... but...

I stop to realize that this has to be the happiest time in my life and... I smile... because it is... it's just not how I had pictured it, but life is like that... it can't always be planned and is never perfect...

No matter what's going on with the world around me, I stop to realize that I'm lucky to be here today. I'm grateful for everything, good or bad... and I stop to realize that this is life... and life happens...

So... this being the most grateful and happiest time of my life, I'd like to share it with you by starting another year of blogging everyday. I am going to do this and pressure myself at this, very hectic, time in my life so that I can stay sane, happy, and remember, everyday, why I'm lucky, no matter how life happens...

"Life is what happens while you are busy making other plans." John Lennon

http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/j/johnlennon137162.html#ixzz1PUqnXjEH

Truth...

"Time is precious... but, truth is more precious than time."

That's what my fortune cookie read today...

Truth...

When I think of truth, I think of art...

Somebody walked into the gallery a few days ago and was looking around for a piece to take home. She looked around and told me a bit about how she collects art but is not sure what would work in her home and, at the same time, would be an investment. I told her a bit about the artists, their work, and my ideas, then, left it up to her to decide. I explained that the only way to pick art was to love it. If she loved what she took home, then, it would work, no matter where it went and how much it cost. A person has to feel a certain connection with a piece of art and when they do, it won't matter how much it costs now or fifty years from now; It won't matter if there's space for it or not. That connection will only take place when your truth loves that piece of art. The truth inside is what makes us who we are, what we love, who we love, and how we love. The truth is all that matters in this world, where time is so precious... truth is more precious.

Nudes Are People Too: Rick Rotante

Woman With Flowers (Sold)

Pastel on Paper 11x14 $200

Pastel On Paper 16x20 $300

Pastel on Paper 11x14 $200

Oil on Canvas 33x27 $600

Pastel on Paper 16x20 $300

Pastel on Paper 11x14 $200

Pastel on Paper 11x14 $200

Pastel on Paper 11x14 $200

Thank you to those who came to the opening and if you haven't come by yet, please do.

Nudes Are People Too: Works by Rick Rotante

Tonight is the opening reception for Nudes Are People Too featuring works by Rick Rotante, a local artist. The only way I can describe Rick's work is by using his own words: " I paint how I feel about a subject, not what I see, preferring to find an expression of the subject. I try and mingle Old World techniques and coloring with subtler contemporary color to bridge the generations and pay homage to the masters."

The first time I saw Rick's work was at his studio. I had to go over to his studio because he would not be able to transport all of his work to the gallery. As I stepped into his space, there was so many pieces around the room... I had no idea where to start. I had to look through it and choose the ones for the show and as I began to look through a small pile, I realized that this was his world... his life... This was what his life revolved around... it was what he was made of... and I had simply just walked into it... that easily...

So, since his words and his work speaks for itself, I'd like to say that Rick is truly an artist... art is his life and his life is art... You just have to see it to understand...

My Real Life...

My life will be changing in less than a month... but... so many changes have already taken place in the last couple of months that I'm beginning to feel "change." With all the things on my "To Do" list, I have been consumed with priorities, which have kept me from feeling too overwhelmed. As each change in my life takes place, I take time to myself every once in a while to figure it all out... until last week...

Early last week, as we were having a Memorial Day barbeque in the backyard with family, Armen received a phone call... and we got news that his grandmother had passed... As he took the phone away from his ear, he said, "Uh, I think we have to go to my grandma's house... I think she passed away..." I just sat there and stared at him and tried to understand his words. Then, I got up and said, "Ok then... let's go... what are you waiting for? Let's go and see what's going on..." As I said that, I felt my stomach turn upside down... it was an unexplainably fearful feeling. I thought about what it was going to be like going through it all over again... the sadness, people, reactions, funeral, and silence... We sat in the car and there it began... the silence... I turned to Armen and asked, "Why do you think this is happening right now?..."

Well, with the sadness being apart of my life right now, my sister had planned a girl's weekend getaway for last weekend. I thought that it might be selfish of me to have 15 girls cancel their plans and plane tickets. So, I gave most of my time to the family until the funeral ended and delayed the trip a bit... and, while packing to go have fun and celebrate my life, I felt sadness and happiness at the same time... While on the trip, I laughed just as much as I've cried these last couple of months. The trip was a success in doing that...

They say that happiness and sadness are siblings... I have to say that I haven't experienced life like this before. My life in the last year has taught me more than all my 26 years and as my life changes, I wish and pray for love... no matter tears or laughter, I want love... love with its laughter and tears is real love... and real love is what I choose in my real life...

Nudes Are People Too: Works by Rick Rotante

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