AJ's Wild Ride

2009…an update to this year in life

eclecticomnibus — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 03:40:04 +0000

Wow. Time flies sometimes. I am finished with Cosmo school. I am now working my ass off at a local salon.I LOVE doing hair. I hardly every have time 4 myself. Let alone, any art. That gets me down somtimes. But, I have realized I am NOT superwoman like I once believed to be.

Let’s see…..our home went into foreclose. Next month will be the last of our 5 payments to save our home and start a new loan.

We are always broke. Always struggling. It will get better. I hope. The economy has hurt everyone. But, what can you do??? Give up? HELL NO!

I lost 40 pounds. I need to lose another 40 and will by the end of this year….. Our daughter is back home. Our kids are doing good in school. Making good grades. Staying busy in activities.

I feel so thankful for life. For having a home. For having a family. For having friends.

The good thing is………….when you have struggled for the past 7 years, it doesn’t hurt so bad knowing that your air conditioner is broke upstairs and you have to wait 2 weeks until the next paycheck. It helps you cope with being so poor that you barely have any food in the house with FOUR teens here. It helps you to deal with the fact that life can be hard. But, the choice is up to you and me each day……..

Are we thankful………….or, are we resentful…………

Bet you thought I had died

eclecticomnibus — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 20:09:52 +0000

Wow. I can’t believe I haven’t been on here in……….4 ever. I am now more than half way with my cosmetology program. I have been keeping my private journal updated. It really has been my only cource of release and healing actually. Where do I even start. I actually do feel dead to the world right now. I am loving school. I am loving what I am learning. For the first time in years, I have decided to cut back on my portions and watching what I eat. I have picked up a couple of other habits however that I will not mention here. Our oldest son graduated from high school in May. He is starting college this week. Locally. So, he still lives at home. I have my 13 yr old at one school and my 12 yr old at another. Then, there is my daughter……… She is 16 and no longer living with us. As of Sunday morning, she moved back to Arizona. She is living with her best friend and her family. I NEVER in my life thought that my children would want to get away from me that bad. I am a great mother. I have felt guilty the past few weeks. It seems that for the past 18 years, I have been at home with them. Protecting them. Taking care of them. Sheltering them…..maybe. Then, I start school and all hell breaks loose. I can sadly say that I don’t even know what is going on in her mind anymore. I have always told my children that they could tell me anything. But, she chose not to include me. This is a trial only for now. I will decide in December if she can stay a little longer or, if she should come home. My husband & I have given her some rules. I have never been this hurt in my life. On Saturday night, I couldn’t hardly get out of bed. Literally. When I did, I felt so freakin sick. I was dry heaving at dinner and crying my heart out. For the first time in our 20 year marriage, we actually cried together. Asking ourselves why. She seems so distant from me. She is cold. I have lived my life full of constantly making sacrifices. For my kids, for my husband, family and friends. However, this was the BIGGEST sacrifice I have ever made. However, if she can grow from this experience, than, I am at peace with it. I miss all of my art friends. I wish you all peace and happiness.

It’s been a loooong time

eclecticomnibus — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 18:45:22 +0000

Ok. I am typing this on my break at school. So this will be short and hopefully sweet. I am in cosmetology school now. For those of you that want a stamp or 2 still……I have a couple of handfuls left. Please email me at eclecticomnibus@yahoo.com

I miss seeing all of you and talking art. But, in some way, I am spreading my love for art in color now doing people’s hair and nails, etc.

I hardly have time to breathe. So, if it takes me awhile to respond, please be patient. Love and Peace ~ AJ

A busy week

eclecticomnibus — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 01:33:59 +0000

Whew! This week has been so busy. So much going on. Our oldest son and our daughter will perform during halftime at their last football game of the year. It is state finals. GO UNION!!

I can’t remember if I told you guys or not. But, I am going to start school next week. Full time. Cosmetology. Yeah! I am so excited. I LOVE people and playing withcolor. So, this is just a new way for me to play for the time being. I am a little concerned. Not about my school or anything. But, just being able to juggle that and life as a mom. If all of my kids were totally “normal”…..then, I think it would be ok. But, I still need to get our youngest tested. My husband starts a new job next week. Pay isn’t great. But, we will have insurance as an option. But you know what…………..I CAN do this! I have always been up for a challenge. I just need to stay focused and not get stressed.

Anyway, just wanted to be sure and remind you….PLEASE take advantage of ajsstampworld.com. At the end of the year, after 10 years……….it will be gone. My line of stamps is being sold and I need to find a new home for all this inventory.

The art that you see on this post as well as the last 2 are just a small taste of some art I have for sale on the site as well. Have a great week!!

Art!

eclecticomnibus — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 14:44:44 +0000

Ok. After writing about negative stuff. I have to share some art with you. I love this one I did of Marilyn. I can’t wait to start using other people’s stamps. For the past 8 years, I would use mine non stop. Every one that has their line can relate. It gets OLD. So, now I can create like a free bird. If you are interested in me working with your line….email me! For now, here is my digital art. Next week, I hope to post something I made with Invoke Arts.

Time 4 Change

eclecticomnibus — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 14:16:04 +0000

Wow. I can’t believe we are in November all ready!! What a year. As we approach Thanksgiving, I have been reflecting on many things in life. I have also begun to make several changes in my life. One being, our pet kids. I loved them all dearly. But, it was too much!!! Too Many! It was not fair to them nor to me. So, I found all of them a good home with the exception of Mocha and China. I now have 2 cockers. They are huge lap babies. Always wanting to be by me. After my dad fiinished his treatments, my cousin ended up in the hospital. She is only 4 years older than me. We are close. After being in there 3 weeks, they found out she has 2 rare kidney diseases. So………….life is short. We should all make the best of every day we are given. Some days are good. Some days are bad. And I mean BAD. When one gets stressed and overwhelmed as much as I was……. you have to really try to eliminate things that are hindering you from moving forward.With that said, I have made a few changes. After pouring my life and heart into my stamp line, Eclectic Omnibus for almost 8 years……..it was time. I am announcing here the sale of my line. When I receive the check in the mail, I will tell you who the new owner is.If you have been wanting some stamps….. NOW is the time. Once my INVENTORY is sold out, it is gone..I am not making any more stamps.

Letting go of something you love is hard to do. However, like my “door ” stamps says……when one door closes, another door opens. Every new beginning is some beginnings end.

Welcome to WHERE YOU ARE.

Barely hanging on…..

eclecticomnibus — Sat, 06 Oct 2007 05:00:05 +0000

This will be the last post I write for awhile. I am in deep depression. So, I will try to make this quick. I just lost my cable about an hour ago. I am sure that in an hour or who knows when, my internet as well as my land phone will be disconnected as well. I will lose my electric in 3 days unless some kind of miracle happens. If you would like to help, please go to ajsstampworld.com and read and place an order. I will go to my local library at least once a week until I can pay my cox bill and my other bills. If you want to call it in, the only way to reach me will be my cell. On a somewhat + note, my dad will do his last cancer treatment on Monday. May God bless you and may you always have peace. That is something we all need.

Goodbye for now ~ Angela

Frustrated

eclecticomnibus — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 12:29:44 +0000

Wow. It has been a long time since I have posted. Many reasons why. I just wanted to let everyone know I am still alive and plan on getting the charms out this week. I will post to my blog as well as my web site when I do it so everyone that was involved can be watching the mail. I am at a really strange point in my life right now. I am usually a person that is strong and can handle alot. But, right now, I am trying to keep thinking positive. There are way too many things going on in my life. Some, I will not post at all for many reasons. I must say…..this is one of the hardest times in my life. My dad came over last night with my mom. I had been sick all weekend( it is amazing what stress does to the body). He looked so sad and so tired. He has been thru half of his radiation treatments now. He is experiencing so many side effects. He told me he is ready to quit. That broke my heart. I love my dad. I told him to please be strong and keep going. I have told him I would go to any support group meetings or do anything he wanted to do. He does not want to go to any. He is 72 now and just tired. I have been praying for him. I am so worn out. I wish I was just dealing with my dad right now and everything that involves. But, as usual, life has to be so much more complicated than that. Like I said, too much. It is just too much for me! Really, only my best friend in Dallas know everything that is going on. With everything acting like a huge tornado right now, I am still trying to find peace as well as happiness. I watched our son and daughter perform at the HS football game this week. That did make me happy as well as proud of them. Anyway, still alive. Hopefully my next post won’t be so …….blah.

wow…

eclecticomnibus — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 16:48:48 +0000

Ok. As far as the charm swap goes, I have been waiting to hear from several people. So, when they all get here, I will swap them out and send your freebie too. My dad starts his radiation treatments next week. Our daughter has been at dance camp this week. Our oldest son had his senior pictures taken this week. Band camp starts next week for him. I am trying to get ready for Art Unraveled. As far as the new stamps go, I am way, way behind on that due to my life and it’s craziness as well as the birthday bash fiasco. This has done nothing but drive me crazy. After I went thru all the trouble of decorating each envelop to give it a personal touch……half of them were RETURNED to me and the other half were lost by the stupid postal system. I will scan a picture later with the note they put on the ones they sent back to me so you can see for yourself what a freakin nightmare this has been. So, needless to say, I will have to repackage them and resend the ones that were returned to me. I have all ready been out several hours on putting them together and several dollars. So, I am so frustrated I could scream. But, I won’t. I have made a decision that when school starts back up, this year, I am going to finally spend some time on myself. It is about time. Way past due. I am going to eat healthier and lose weight. I am actually looking forward to it. I am now ready….. So……I don’t know when I will get a chance to post again. More than likely, it will be after Art Unraveled. That will be around Aug. 14th………and, our kids start school on Aug.16th. So, until I post again, may all your dreams come true. Enjoy life. Be kind to someone.Smile. Create some fun art. And…..breathe………

Much love and peace ~ AJ

update on charms received and life

eclecticomnibus — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 16:20:01 +0000

Melanie Becker ~ Heart. Monika Grant ~ Heart. Marilyn Johnstone~ heart. Ms. Devaney ~ Wings. Ellen Gray ~ wings and hearts. Allison and Cathie ~ Hearts and wings. Lori Carruthers ~ Heart. Peg Krzyzewski ~ Wings and hearts.

The due date for these is THIS WEEKEND!! Please, if you signed up, follow thru. The work on the charms received is just wonderful. They have put their heart into it and I would hate to see any broken hearts for people dropping out!! I will be out of town this weekend. If you need to have an extension, that is fine. Just please keep me informed! I have been so busy that my head is spinning. So, please send them in.