Mandy's Friends - About Me

Information Overload

2007-08-04T21:07:00.000-07:00

Well, I've got my nose stuck in books and forums soaking up all I can before I talk to the banker on Monday. It's almost an information overload for me and feels a bit overwhelming.

My Realtor said that the first house I do will be most difficult and the most in a learning experience for me, and I agree. I am getting mentally prepared for what's going to happen down the road so I know the logical steps of rehabbing houses.

The WHY

2007-07-31T01:46:00.000-07:00

I was watching CNBC yesterday night and they were interviewing 4 mulit-millionaires, including Robert Kiyosaki. It feels different to look at him on TV when I've met him in person - to know that he is still a man.

In this show, they had many prepared questions & questions from the audience. The question that got me was something to the effect of

How did you achieve your success?

One man got so passionate about what he was saying, he stood up,

The how isn't nothing compared to the WHY. If the WHY is strong enough, the HOW will come.

The interviewees sitting around him started shaking their head in agreement. Then, each told their story of WHY, their passion - what kept them going through the good times and even when times get rough.

That moment was a self reflection. Even though I've had some success and some failure, I had to look inside for my WHY. WHY do I not give up. WHY do I keep persisting my dream and ignoring those to go for the 'secure' job.

I look at my family and there is my WHY. It's been strong enough to take me where I am today, despite everything that I've gone through. I'm still as passionate about my why as I was back then - but couldn't put my finger on just what it was. If not for my WHY, I certainly would have gotten a job, but no. My WHY means too much to me. It burns within me. I feel it from my heart to the pit of my stomach.

The answer is not to give up. The answer is to correct and continue. I know my WHY and why I keep pressing on.

My purpose is greater than any and all fears.

Attractor Factor: Now I know it is not chance, because the attractor factor played it's cards once again. I am re-reading Napoleon Hill's book - Think and Grow Rich. I was currently on the part of Faith and Desire - the passion, the WHY people do what they do. It is no coincidence that this plays out.

The 5 Inches or so Between Your Ears

2007-07-27T16:01:00.000-07:00

The biggest battle in life IS the 5 inches or so between your ears.
If you win the battle in your head, you will win everywhere else.

The biggest battle for me, indeed, is the 5 inches or so between my ears. It's been a self battle for awhile now with real estate, but I'm glad soon rather than later I've come around 'to the light side'. The fear of never having my own house has been overcome.

With my nose stuck in a book and posting on the forums, I've learned alot, come across some contacts, and hopefully talking to some local Realtors by next week. I'm looking forward to meeting with them and taking action instead of being a chair potato.

The biggest part is self-visualization. I have my goals planned out and I can actually see myself doing them. I know exactly what I want to do and have money management systems in place when I get it. The goals are realistic and it's amazing how the pieces are coming together for me.

It's still a struggle with my parents, though. They can't understand why I don't want to take a job. My plan includes, at some point, to be able to pay for their house too so they can quit their jobs and take vacations. It will be a glorious day.

WoW Photo Gallery

2007-05-22T09:50:00.000-07:00

It's about time. Click Here for my World of Warcraft photo gallery. Enjoy!

People

2007-04-17T01:10:00.000-07:00

I've spent a lot of my time watching and learning how people act and why they act that way. I've found some things to be universally constant.

Feeling Good(or) Feeling Bad. At opposite ends, these are two most basic responses you can have to any situation. And it's the degree of separation from neutral that determines the intensity of your response.

If you know me, you put a feeling of good or bad in your head even before you started reading this post. Right now, you are feeling good about what I'm saying, how I'm saying it and where this is potentially going or disliking this garbage. Your feeling good/bad creates your perception and reality of what goes on in your life. The greater the feelings one way or the other, the more strongly you feel good/bad about the situation. Remember that humans use logic to explain their feelings away till they're blue in the face.

More to come on this topic later...

Happy Birthday Kim

2007-02-20T08:41:00.000-08:00

I know it's a couple days late, but we're finally getting around to spend a nice family dinner out for your birthday! Happy 19th birthday, Kim! Hope you're looking forward to you new job! It sounds exciting!

Happy Valentines Day

2007-02-15T16:32:00.000-08:00

Got an extra special Tweety from an extra special someone this valentines day! Wish I could show you a picture of the real thing! However, it's not about the stuff. It's about spending time with that special someone and remembering all the good things about them - why you fell in love in the first place. ;) Happy Valentines Day, everyone!

Cats

2007-02-10T17:21:00.000-08:00

I am your father's brother's nephew's cousin's former room-mate.

2007-02-06T05:45:00.000-08:00

And what does that make us? Absolutely nothing!

It must be a Mel Brooks marathon with me, as I fixed my sisters computer (exploited deleted) reinstalling windows. The only thing to keep my sanity while doing that as Windows updates never seem to end.

On bootup, she got a black screen that didn't seem to want to do anything. So, I had to fix it and the only thing I really could say was a reinstall. Happy birthday, sis! LOL!

It's Good to be the King

2007-02-03T10:11:00.000-08:00

Again, another fun Friday with History of the World: Part I (did they ever make a part II), the Nintendo Revolution and going out to Village Inn.

Cookie, all I want you to admit is that you're ticklish. Nothing more. Nothing less. Doooooo eeeeeeeet! :)

More Rambling

2007-02-01T23:25:00.000-08:00

Talking with my sister & b/f made me realize that I definitely need more information before making a decision. I'll have to look at the pros and cons of each choice and which decision, moving there or staying here, works better for me. I'll have to look at the financials and if this is really in line with my ultimate goals. Also, if I go, I would want my b/f to come with me and I'm also wondering how that will work.

Decisions, Decisions

2007-02-01T03:19:00.000-08:00

I'm faced with an interesting choice in my life. One that will affect me for the rest of it. I'll definitely need to talk it over with my sister for her advice, as she is my best friend and stable ground. I will have to figure a lot of things out - what to do, and not to do.

Nintendo Revolution

2007-01-27T10:00:00.000-08:00

I never will call it by it's 'real name' as it will always be the Nintendo Revolution. On Friday's, my friends and I always have a blast. I should really record some of the things that should go on and share them here. It's so freaking hilarious!

Last night, we played bowling, golf, and Super Smash Brothers. My sister is a Pikachu master and I DARE anyone to challenge her! Seriously. She went to a national convention for this stuff and competed - she got like 50th place out of everyone there! We also have a our own version of a pancake and camping. Bring firewood! =D

We have our tradition at Village Inn and Anna is a sweetheart. We <3 you hun! I don't know what I'd do without my weekly Coke.

Cookie, we all know you're ticklish, and I am too. Enjoy it!

Next week, we plan to have more controllers and play tennis and baseball. It will be a lot more fun. Gotta take my own camera next time for pictures. ^.^

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream

2007-01-13T15:58:00.000-08:00

It's weird. It's 6 degrees F outside. It's snowing. I'm curled up in a blanket on my chair and eating my most favoritest ice cream in the world - Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough. Can never go wrong with it! =D

Being Happy

2007-01-12T00:42:00.003-08:00

A friend once asked me what I want. Not the casual 'oh what do you want' for supper, at a store or to do for a night. It's the ultimate question that only we can answer for ourselves. And, no matter what answers - the sun, the moon, or the stars, they all stem from one thing. Being happy.

Everything we want and desire in life stems from that one desire. It took a lot of thinking for me to realize that one. Once I realized that, everything else has fallen into place. I want to be happy in all that I do and have good relations with all that I meet. In the end, it's people that matter the most and the people we fill our lives with everyday that make us happy.

A Final Farewell to Linda

2006-12-18T16:20:00.000-08:00

Today was one of the hardest days in my life. Today was Linda's funeral.

It was beautiful. There were so many flowers and people from all over. Many faces I recognized from way back when and many faces were new. My mom, Joe and I were all there, and I couldn't stop from crying. It was like a sink that simply couldn't be shut off.

She was just there, so peaceful - holding her baby in the casket. Three layers of makeup to cover up the burns, I can't imagine her final moments of life. It's not fair that she was taken away. It's not fair. It's not fair....

I guess I couldn't believe she was actually gone till I saw her there. The shock was a little too much to bear. I don't know if I still can believe it, even after seeing it with my own eyes.

It was one of the nicest services I've ever been to. They spoke of her life, sang "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" by Israel Kamakawiwo Ole (thank you, Jonathan) and parts of "Circle of Life". Jimmy, her brother, spoke for a few minutes too - so fondly. He and Bob (her father) looked well. Kathy (her mother) looked like a nervous wreck, and rightfully so.

More will be written later when I can calm down enough to write.

If it isn't one thing...

2006-12-16T04:54:00.000-08:00

It's another. If this week wasn't bad enough, in the same phone call from my mom that told me about Linda D. (read post below), she also said that she got rear ended too (by another car). She JUST got her car fixed from hitting the deer and now this happened.

Life throws you curves, but this today was just awful.

Linda, I loved you like a sister

2006-12-16T04:16:00.000-08:00

When life throws you lemons - make lemonade. I'm not sure how to make lemonade out of today, though. One great blow in my life occurred and I can't believe it happened.

One of my best friends from grade school - for more than ten loving years, Linda D., died a few days ago in a tragic fire. One day away from having another child and one survived, my heart is broken due to this tragadey.

Words can't express what she meant to me when we were friends. Those were some of the best times I remember growing up. I miss you, hun - more than you know. Wherever death takes you, I hope that you are alright. You were too good of a person with one of the biggest hearts I knew.

We did everything that little girls do at that age - played with Barbies, hung out with friends or just together, sleepovers, told each other secrets, talked about (gasp!) boys, threw birthday parties, and you even took care of my hamster - Thumper - while I was away.

Living in the house right behind mine, we sled down my hill through the gate into her yard and when we got too cold, went inside for hot chocolate. We would always compare how tall we were, and you were always a bit taller than I. We took it through the good times and saw it through the bad - all for each other. We said we'd be best friends forever and even got matching necklaces to prove it. =D

I can't imagine life without you being around. I miss you dearly, hun. Thank you for being a part of my life. I will never forget you.

The best things in life cannot be advertised, bought, packaged, and put under a tree. The best things in life are the people - family and friends. You don't know what you've got till it's gone - and I guess I forgot that too. I loved you like a sister, Linda - and no holiday nor amount of money could ever bring you back to me.

Click Here to read more about this dear and close person to my heart.

Mom's Flower Cake

2006-12-13T23:17:00.000-08:00

Happy Birthday Mom! I'm glad you enjoyed your flower cake. It almost looks good enough to eat!

Where is My Snow?

2006-12-13T22:18:00.000-08:00

It's almost the middle of December, and my hometown hasn't seen one snowflake! This is crazy! I don't know what I'm going to do without my snow. :(

It's Beginning to Look Alot like XMas

2006-12-05T02:47:00.000-08:00

It's getting to that time of year again (and my mom's birthday!!!!), but there seems to be one thing missing from the scene. The holiday lights are up, Santa is coming soon and the reindeer are gearing up for the trip, Christmas music is in the air, and everyone is more joyous this time of year.

"So, what's missing?" you ask.

Well, maybe this little song will help, "Frosty the Snowman was a jolly happy soul." Oh wait. We don't have Frosty yet this year because there is no snow! ACK! It's not a December without snow in the great state of Nebraska! I might have to visit to Alaska to see Frosty this year!!! =D

My Mom Did A Strange Thing

2006-11-20T18:20:00.000-08:00

It's easy to tell city folk from the country folk if you know my mom. A couple of days ago, a funny thing happened. I tell people "My mom did a strange thing the other day." with straight face.

Being inquisitve, they ask what she did that was strange. I calmly respond "She went deer hunting." Now, if you know my mom, you know she doesn't even own a gun. At this point, the defining line between city and country folk is shown. The country folk start laughing and the city ones just look at me confused. Now, if you're one of those city folk wondering how she went deer hunting, keep reading.

After an uncomfortable pause, I say "With her car". Sometimes I hold the straight face, sometimes I can't because I bust up laughing at this point (not that hitting a deer is funny, but their reaction is). =D

To make the story whole, my mom did go deer hunting - with the car. She's ok, and the car runs (front right side is bent all up), and she'll definitely need a new one soon. She has a rental for now and everything is being taken care of.

Google Can't Decide

2006-11-20T18:14:00.000-08:00

It's been funny watching the PR of this site go up and down the last few days as I've been posting more recently. Switching between PR0 and PR2, I wonder if Google's 6 month PR update is coming. =D

The Power of Laughter

2006-11-18T05:58:00.000-08:00

A good hearty chuckle puts you in a good mood; so, be sure to use this knowledge to your advantage. Even if it's in your room by yourself for a minute - 60 seconds - a day. Sixty seconds of laughter - we sure could all use some of that medicine in the morning - and it doesn't cost us a dime! Be sure to enjoy some laughter in your diet today! =D

The Power of Intention

2006-11-13T16:12:00.000-08:00

Don't underestimate the power of intention - and I should know!

The weirdest thing happened today because of the intention I set yesterday. The reality only took a day to manifest and has to do with the 3 Forms of Leverage.

I don't want to go into specific details, but I will say my partner and I are using the 3 Forms of Leverage to our advantage! =D