Hi My Name is Angela and I am a Roadie.

A few days before the big blizzard hit I was out walking the snowtorious B.I.G and the neighbor in the single family home two houses to my right struck up a converstion with me. It started light with my he's a big guy. Biggie is a little overwhelming he's a 75 pound English Bulldog. Her little dog Lucy was enjoying running up and then running away from Biggie. She noted that I was new to the neighborhood which I confirmed and mentioned buying that place over there. Pointed to said condo where for sale sign once lived. Biggie and I kept walking down the sidewalk and on the return she asked the job question. My response was simple... I'm an Independent Contractor. She follwed that with oh in what field and I responsed with Live Touring Production. pauses akward silence.... confused looks and finally I said I travel with various live entertainment shows.... and just as I saw her look of complete terror I drop... "I'm a roadie." She gets it oh "you travel with the rock bands from place to place oh I see. Anyone I know?" We shared a few laughs over my past employers and said good-bye. Biggie and I walked back into the house and it hits me "I'm a roadie." Seriously that's my job.

RAW but not the WWF Smackdown! kind...

"Lately I've been glaring into mirrors picking myself apart you'd think at my age I'd thought of something better to do than making insecurity into a full time job making insecurity into an art." 

-Ani DiFranco

This past Monday-Wednesday I drank water... I ate no food and I drank nothing but ionized filtered water for three days. I faced my demons. I didn't just wake up and say I think I will give a water fast a go... It was all apart of my last 30 Days... Nate gave me a raw food detox as a Christmas gift. I've battled with some skin issues for almost five years. I've tried everything and no one has any answers. In 2009 while in Hong Kong, I saw a chinese herbalist who told me two things he said you have butterfly pattern you need to be tested for lupis and you no eat the heated foods. I assumed he meant look little girl you must learn to stay away from the wasabi... Turns out he meant heated as in cooked. Those who know me know I stopped eating meat when I was around 16. Stories vary on why from the more commonly told there was a big scare about eating meat causing cancer to the less told "I was at Hardee's and my Hamburger moo'd at me." Moral of the story I have been off the meat for 21 years. I am bringing this up to confirm what most of you already know I'm a hippie, Love the animals so not eating meat is easy. No caffiene and by NO I mean not even decaf. I started weening myself off coffee back in Mid-October so that was actually a matter of just switching to the herbals and learning about the super food maca.  So that really just left my biggest addiction. SUGAR. They say that coming off sugar is like coming off of heroin. Lucky for me I've found stevia (it's not sugar)... They also still allow natural sugars like agave and palm sugars etc... non processed. So it's not ZERO sugar but it's not my normal Quentin Tarantino amount of sugar in my coffee...you know I like a side of coffee with my sugar. Moving on...So week one they prepare three raw food meals for you including a raw food dessert. You drop about 5-8pds. Week two you scale down to two raw food meals and you have more clear snot come out of your nose then you every thought possible. Week three you are having one raw food meal and smoothies and the snot turns into a tons of emotional drainage and you learn things like say to those I shut out in the past trust me it wasn't you and the so I am not always right... sighs oh and then on the last week you fast. This means juice (green juice) or Water. I chose to do three days of water. Three is a big number it's the magic number. Now please keep in mind that I have gone 14 days of just drinking UltraClear as a part of the let's figure out what else you are allergic to plan and that when I set my mind to it I am like a Bulldog... I set my eyes on the prize. The prize my health. I'm not going to lie it's not easy. In fact your smells are on high alert so when someone cooks a pizza you smell it 100% more. (this may have to do with the draining of the snot.) Anyway... Day four I added back juice Day Five smoothie Day Six spinach leaves and some fresh lemon juice... That leads us to the NOW. (or to yesterday(s) depending on when you read this) I will continue eating raw food for the next 7 days... I picked up some goodies that I am allowed to add back in: a bag of cacao powder for my smoothies and some raw oatmeal items. I'm also very anxious to try my hand at making a few raw meals. My meals up to this point have been prepared as a part of the cleanse. Which was good/bad... nice to not have to think about it but bad when you are faced with an item you really rather just toss in the bin. Anyway, so Nate and I are going out with friends on Sunday and I'm sure that will involve cooked foods... and let's get real touring isn't easy when it comes to allergies. (Unless of course, I'm with my Lat45 brothers - they always make sure I have something Gluten free)  I do think the only non vegan item I would add back in at this point would be goats cheese... If you've had the sweet potato fries and goats cheese dip at uncommon ground you would fully understand this statement. So on to the Results...

My energy level's are better, My skin is clearer, My thinking is less clouded and I'm finally breaking through years of building up walls. *breathes*

 So This is me Raw Foods on Day 29 - Right after a workout and with no make up! :o)

“I’ve got myself a new mantra, It says ‘Don’t forget to have a good-time.’"-Ani DiFranco

I only allow that which is good into my life...

I've been learning about what I don't need in my life this year. 
I guess I was finally open to learning that lesson...
I think it might have to do with discovering/accepting my own self-worth.  
I've recently learned that... 

No one can depress you. 

No one can make you anxious. 

No one can hurt your feelings.

No one can make you anything other than what you allow inside.

It's just that simple. I seem to have almost lost sight of the fact that You control your life. NO ONE else does. YOU. You have the power to Stand Back Up and say "No Thanks." which also gives you the power to say "Yes, Please."  

some where along the way I've lost my way...

How many times have you said cruel things... almost unspeakable things... the kind of things you would never speak to your own child (fur or human) yet you speak them freely to yourself. Most people can admit they are there own worse critic. To be honest there is almost nothing you can say to me that I haven't already internally attacked myself on esp. if I feel I have failed you. I've had some time to really listen to those thoughts we push away and I have to say I haven't been very nice to myself. I even started verbally remarking to myself about not being enough this or not being enough that. You get the picture. It's not pretty. We are taught from a young age to judge ourselves and others... The Media tells us what we should wear, how skinny we need to be (Miss Monroe was a Dress Size of 12/14/16 and now a Size 0/2/4 is the hollywood norm.) I'm honestly done with it. I'm done with the he said she said you don't you should... I'm ready for the challenge of living life on my terms...deep breathe...  I forgive myself for any harm I may have caused to myself and... and...I am... I am Beautiful! :o)

healthy boundaries...

People tell me things... People who don't even know me tell me things. Personal things. Life things. The cashier at Kroger felt the need to tell me she had her nails done for Prom. All I did was smile and say they looked nice and the next ten items or less scans I learned her prom date had not only bailed on her but knocked up this other girl and is now going to marry her. My response at least you found out now and let's face it they'll be divorced in a year and if he comes crawling back to you do yourself a favor and just say no.

The stranger danger factor is easy for me to shake... They don't corner me at my desk, they don't have my cell phone number so when I walk away it's done. 

However and I really hope this isn't going to turn into a "you're so vain you probably think this song is about you moment." as YOU are not the only person who dumps on me and YOU need to realize this post is not about YOU it's about ME. I'm sick of the he said-she said-but you said- and why don't you say- perhaps I sound selfish but at what point do I stand up and say enough. Look I get it you don't like them well guess what they don't like you and as little as I want to hear you talk about them on the flip I want to hear it even less from them and at the end of that day... and yeah I think you got handed the short end of the stick on that deal but holding onto that negativity isn't helping anyone and honestly I don't care. I think at one point in my life I really did and I really wanted to fix - to repair - to maintain... I'm finally to a point in my life that I can walk away. I need to learn healthy boundaries. I need to learn to say enough. To learn it's not my fight... and at the end of the day you've never once asked me... you just want to tell me to feed to your own ego. Go spew your negative energy somewhere else I have a LIFE to live. :o) 

"I don't know the key to success, but the key to failure is to try to please everyone."

Carrot Juice and God.

Sometimes she appears in my dreams and we have the most amazing conversations that I can't remember when I arise I just know that she's stopped by. It's not very often that she appears but she does it from time to time I think mainly to let me know that she misses me as much as I miss her. It always makes me wonder how life would be different if she were still here. If we'd go weeks without talking only to talk on the phone for a few minutes cause we're all so "busy" and I wonder If she is proud of me. If she would understand and accept the choices that I have made in my life. I still to this day reach out to the phone and try to dial her number... with hopes. It angers me that I didn't have the chance to ask her questions about "grown up" life and if I am doing it all wrong? Sometimes I wonder if I do enough? or if I do to much?

I can be so strong when it comes to talking about her... most days... but mothers day guts me. I'm not sure if it's the marketing the in your face reminder or if it's a simple memory of mothers day cards that I so often hand crafted for her out of construction or maybe it's the awareness that she really is gone. Regardless of what it is my heart is full of love today cause I was blessed to have a mom. a strong christian mother who taught me strength and the ability to look at things for the good. To let go and let God. To take life one day at a time. Oh and that a little Carrot Juice isn't going to hurt anyone.

Happy Mother's Day. If your mom is still alive give her a big hug for me the kind where you don't let go right away and you hold onto and you remember. After all if it wasn't for mommas we wouldn't be here. :o)

Stillness Speaks

"Leave life alone. Let it be." - Eckhart Tolle

Friendship

My mother use to always tell me that God puts us right where we need to be. Today I new that was true when I hugged an old friend. It was suppose to be over coffee but God had other plans. :o)

2000 to 2010

10 years ago I was still hung over from Y2-OK. It was the first full year of "our" marriage. "we" lived in Chicago. It was the first year I would have to learn to live without being able to pick up the phone to call my mother. It was also the year I would have to accept the fact that my father married my mother's sister. I was lost. I was scared. I was very much alone even when I had people around me. I drank to forget. I stumbled through... we all watched with horror as the home land was attacked... "we" had just moved to New Mexico (for his work) and I was home alone when Marlon called to tell me to turn on the TV. I sat in the closet with Biggie not sure where to go or what to do until it was time to go to class... Life slowed down people everywhere started being a little nicer. I bought a Harley and learned to ride it, I finished my college degree. "we" moved to Paris, Arkansas (for his work) "we" gutted a house and tried to hold on to what was left. Half way into that decade I gave up and said good bye to "we" so "he" could always remain a friend. *side note that's harder to type then I thought* I began a journey on my own... I got by with a little help from my friends. I spent a few night's at the Larese's, I lived on Shevy's sofa, The Worlow's opened up thier guest room and I slowly began to rebuild myself. A year in a rental house with my amazing friend Blu and then in Octobor of 2006 I took a big leap and bought a house only to be fired (for the first time ever in my life) one month later. *that was a harder hit then I would ever admit* I was thankful to my friend Joe who taught me the baby steps I stood back up dusted off my pride and jumped back in. I slung cotton and snapped some photos and honestly just regained my sanity. slowly. I started making it happen. I found out what happens when you don't take good care of yourself (fyi you end up in the ER with a BIg bill) I put down the bottle and I repaired my relationship with God. I found love again... found out how far it can really test you and how strong it can be if you hold on. I reconnected with those who I had lost and although they may not realize they make me smile with the most simple status updates or the "thumbs up" of a photo and they all helped in many ways to keep me sane as I left the comfort of Nashville (USA) for work. I traveled farther which allowed me to I find out that at the end of the day Home really is HOME SWEET HOME.

In 2010...

I want to chose my words a little better. . I will speak up. I will learn to ENJOY life and NOT STRESS about what is next. I will Learn to TRUST and to BELIEVE in myself and those around me. I will RUN phycially and not mentally.