The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett - just started it.  So far, so good.  I like to read a lot of mystery/thriller novels and Sam Spade and the Maltese Falcon were referenced so much that I thought I would check it out.

I love this question! :)
My dogs, singing loudly with my car windows rolled down, claw machine games, chocolate chip cookies, a baby's laugh, a good book and glass of wine, bubble baths, homemade gifts, and anything shiny.

 

"Sometimes the things that may or may not be true are the things that a man needs to believe in the most: That people are basically good...virtue, honor and courage mean everything...that money and power, power and money - nothing....and love, true love never dies....whether it's true or not, these are the things that man needs to believe in, because these are the things worth living for...."

- Secondhand Lions

I miss having a home.  I grew up a "military brat," so I pretty much moved every year.  I didn't attend the same school twice until I was in high school.  It never really bothered me, because that's how I grew up. - It's all I knew.

Now I'm a little older, and I missing having a home.  To me a home is where the people who love you are.  It's a place that you can always come back to.  My parents moved overseas to serve God...and now I'm without a home.  I still move every year... old habits are hard to break.

I want to have more patience.  I want to let go of my anger...  I want to be a better person.... I want to make my mother proud.

There's a difference between being "family" and being "related."  My family consists of the ones that I share my life with.  There are some I'm related to that know nothing about my life, or my heart.  Just because we share the same blood, doesn't mean that we're family.

 They say you can pick your friends, but you can't pick your family.  I disagree.  I consider my best friends my family.  They've been there for me in good times and in bad.  They've dried my tears and shared my joys.  Isn't that what family is all about?

My sister.  She was a negative force in my life.  She was physically and emotionally abusive, and I'm glad to finally have her out of my life.  It's been 2 years since we've spoken and I couldn't be happier!  I have less negative energy around me, and I've filled that space with positive influences.

The last experience that took my breath away was my best friend's wedding.  The morning of her wedding was a stressful experience.  I did the bride's hair and half of the bridesmaid's hair, including my own.  The lady that was supposed to deliver the  flowers didn't show up until 20 minutes before the ceremony and was almost pummelled by 6 angry bridesmaids and a wedding planner.  Hair done and flowers in hand, I sauntered down the aisle.  My dress got caught between my shoe and my foot and I almost face planted, but I played it off. 

The wedding march started, and all eyes turned around to get the first glimpse of the blushing bride.  All eyes, except mine.  My eyes were on the groom...and it took my breath away!  When he saw his bride for the first time, his breath caught and he smiled so bright that he put the sun to shame.  His happiness was contagious.  I smiled and cried... and felt pure joy radiating off both the bride and the groom.  I've never been so capitivated by another person's emotions...it took my breath away.

One of my happier memories is when I was in high school and I was promoted to Editor-In-Chief of the newspaper.  I was honored and overwhelmed.  I was a bit of an overachiever.  (Not only was I Editor-In-Chief of the newspaper, but I was also Organizations Editor of the yearbook... I was only the softball team, ran track, played in the marching band, and had a part time job.)

I took my first journalism class my sophmore year of high school, and I was the ONLY sophmore to have an article published that year.  By junior year I was writing features and editorials... and senior year I became Editor-In-Chief.  I loved it because it gave me a chance to write, and to help the younger students find their voices.  

What I love about this question is that there is no wrong answer.  "Different strokes for different folks."  My parents dedicate their lives to God.  They teach Sunday school and travel across the world to help spread the word of God.  They believe that is their calling, and it makes them happy.

My friend Nicole loves animals...she volunteer on Saturday afternoons to the humane society.  Animals are her passion, and that's where she feels like she can make a difference.

I like to divide my time where I feel I'm the most needed.  I try to spend time with my grandmother.  She's seen and experienced a lot, and one can alway benefit from knowing more about the past.  I also love reading.  I try to read to my friend's children when I can.   I do different voices and try to get them involved in the story.   They seem to enjoy it.  (As do my cousins in their 20's.  They joined my book club, but they want me to read the books aloud to them.  When I look up from the page, their faces look a lot like the younger children's.  It's pretty funny.)

I love the selfless attitude everyone seems to adopt during the holidays.  People are more willing to help one another.  If you ask for help during the holiday season, you're likely to receive it.  People volunteer their time.... donate money and toys...  The winter holidays is a time when everyone realizes how blessed they are in their lives and reaches out to help someone else.  Happy Holidays!

What's my motivation?  Hope.  I hope that tomorrow will be better than today...  that I will be a better person each day....  I hope that all the hard work and long hours I put in will eventually pay off.  I expect the worst, but hope for the best.  I have to believe that people can change... because if people can change, the world can change. 

Going through and reading my old journals there was a common theme: I was always waiting for something...  I was waiting for my life to begin.  What I didn't realize, is that life was passing me by.  Very cliche, I know... but it's the truth.  Today, I try not to waste my time.  I'm always busy doing something: working...reading... cleaning... cooking... playing with the dogs...  I still feel like something big is coming, but I no longer wait for it.  Some call it wishful thinking... I call it hope.

Love is...
                 Elusive
                               alluring
                                            an illusion...

Love is...
                 torture
                             tearing you apart
                                 from the inside
                                           out

How does a broken heart continue to beat?

Love is...
                lost
a familiar stranger
            waiting
to be welcomed
              home

I'm extremely competitive... it probably comes from growing up so close with my brother.  He always treated me as "one of the guys," and so naturally, I grew up a tomboy.  I'm athletic, but slender... I'm 5' 4", about 115lbs and I have long, dark, curly hair and green eyes.  I no longer look like a tomboy.  What makes me smile is when guys underestimate me because I'm small...and I'm a woman.

The Friday after Christmas I decided to break in my Christmas gift: a brand new, 21-ounce, titanium ,silver and blue pool-stick!  The guy who was running the table played on a pool league, and came to hustle.  He was betting $5 a game...and winning.  So when I sauntered up and demurely asked if I could play, he had no problem accepting the challenge.  He figured he'd humor me and he could get back to hustling the boys.  When I broke out my brand new pool-stick he was mildly impressed... and when I started shooting, well.... he was silent.  Yes ladies and gentlemen, I beat him... and the next guy... and the next...  My brand new pool-stick went undefeated for 16 games before I finally scratched on the 8 ball and had to give up the table.  I'm still smiling about it ! :)