There's No Place Like The North...

All I see now is the wide open sky and the want to run free with people who are like minded and similar in life goals. Together, nothing can hold us back and nothing can tell us where to stop. There is only pure possibility and creative power. We just have to harness it and make our dreams come true.

This is my philosophy on life right now. The people I met at Shambhala this year have really helped me refocus and rid my mind of barriers. It's like being taken and placed on the other side of the wall. Why was that stopping me? Who put that there? I did, oh fuck!! Well, thank you for showing me light. Truely.

Home is where the heart is, and I placed my heart in the best people imaginable. Take me with you! No, wait. I wasn't left behind, I am just a bit lagging. The future knows where I'm at, I just have to catch up. That's all there is to it. It's so simple once it's broken down like that.

I have been immersing myself in the Universal Laws that control the world we exist in. Fucking wow, mind blowing information once you set yourself straight. Here is a really amazing intro link. If this is something you wish to look into further, please message me if you get lost. There's a lot out there.

Album of the Day::
Quixotic and The Human Experience - From the Outside Looking In EP               

That's all I have for now. Love, light, hope, happiness. Let them shine.

Till next time. ♥

My Life Has Changed Completely.. (For The Better!!)

Not many of you know me, many none of you. So, let me start by saying, I'm so happy to be alive today. I have found a path, maybe a few, and I feel I am directing myself towards true happiness.

At this moment I have a paused workout on my other screen and had the urge to just get a quick note typed down while I'm rehydrating. It's pretty interesting to see what has changed in the last three months since I started a 16 week IsaBody challenge (Message me if you want to start a healthier life [;  ) And I have to say, I have been making up excuses about my health for a long time. When I first started this I though, ok, this is the one, let's give it my all. And I'm happy to honestly say I have been for the most part! There have of course been highs and lows, but the highs have greatly tipped the scale. Natural endorphins! There's no better thing. Seeing yourself get stronger... There's no real better feeling than that =]

I have about two weeks exactly left till the end of my challenge, and I plan to make the most out of every single day of it! NO MORE EXCUSES! Anyone reading this who is waiting for a wake up call, seriously man, this is it. Today really is the day. DO IT. You will thank yourself for it.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

And here I am again after finishing my workout and having my amazing little shake friend, YUM! Super pumped, so much to get done tonight! I feel like my life has been on the fast track for the last three months and it has no plan on slowing down! Super exciting, I can't wait to see what happens! 

I have been completely focusing on my health, both physical and mental, lately. Strength is the goal, Life is the reason. I want to experience it all, I don't want any physical limitations to hold me back. I want to have the ability to focus on any goal and get it done. First and foremost, physical strength. Second, mental willpower. (These kind of go hand in hand though so possible tie for first..) Third, my vocal abilities, beat mastery (dancing included in that statement) and songwriting skills. (News to you!?). This has become so important to me. Fourth, Of course overall mental fucking kickass-ness. I have lots of computron books to read, so little time. Love the Linux. 

Coffee coffee, I need more coffee and a bit of a shower. Time to head off. I should post more, so many drafts. Do you people like cooking? What kinda things? =] 

Parting note:: I just realized I had two new Google+ friends from my town, Hello friends! 

See you on the dark side..

The Voice Thing

I have a voice, like many of you do. I've always thought it was crap/weird/not fun to listen to, so I kept it to myself. Never being able to hear myself, only what I think I sound like though my skull, I didn't think anyone would want to hear that.

To start off, before last night, I had only had one compliment on my voice, EVER. A really wonderful lady I met at Shambhala last year was talking to me and another person I had gone on a walk with. After conversing for a few minutes she said, "Excuse me, this is really weird but I really, really love how your voice sounds. I've never heard anything like that before." I was so taken aback that the only response I could come up with was, "Oh no, that must be the cigarettes!" Her response was, "No, no, past that, hah, I can hear how wonderful it sounds." I was completely astonished.

A month ago, I tried karaoke for the first time. Being with a group, there seemed to be only one person there that was taking it seriously, enjoying herself more than anyone I'd ever seen jam out live. Country singer superstar in her own backyard =] Truly, she sounded stellar. The two songs I tried, if singing alone, I would have tried to see if I could get the hang of it. I'd never spoken, let alone sang into a microphone before. But, I was not singing alone, thus I wasn't able to really hear myself or see what octaves I should be hitting, etc. Nonetheless, it lit a spark.

I ended up thinking this feeling over for three weeks, and mentioned it to one of my best friends, Keegan (he also helped design my logo, Sick Ego). Instead of looking at me like I was insane or stupid, he just said, "I'll introduce you to some of my musician friends and a singer who plays with them and you guys can talk or sing about it." Literally, less than a week later, enter last night:

Starting out, I was a bit stage-frightish. Alright, let's get use to how this sounds, what's this going to do, oh that was strange, oh no was that flat?! All these things going through my head. Finally I just allowed myself to let go a bit; Probably the wine kicking in ;] It started out with sing-songy stream of conscience comedy hour with Kat. Seeing my friends and some random stranger actually enjoy the random word splatter coming out of my mouth, I got a bit more comfortable. Stream turned into lyrics turned into vocal up and downs. Long notes, low notes, high notes. How high could I go? Really, really fucking high actually, and still sing while doing so. Roughly 2-3 hours of jamming out with my singsonger out. I think I found something. Everything.

It was some of the most fun I've had in Bozeman in a LONG TIME. No, that doesn't mean I don't have fun here all the time, with all of my friends. But never have I felt so center, so something I could do way more of. Since I was 14ish, stage performance, art, dance, etc, have been "careers" I have dreamed of; The dream job. Singer/Vocalist was never on that list, until now. Who knows what the future holds.

Special shout out to Keegan; Amazing person, artist, musician, friend. Seriously amazing individual. Let's fucking rock it again sometime dude =]

Get your goddamn groove on, and I'll see you all next time. 

Recipe: Crock Pot Wizardry With A Chuck Roast

Seems this years already turning into a roller coaster, seeing that blogging has had to take a backseat for a second. I'm going to start posting some recipes and adaptions that I have written down over the past few years. For me, for you, quick references and all the good jazz.

This recipe was given to me by word-of-mouth from my mother. It's soooooo easy, level one easy. Amaze balls, and in the dozen times I have used this recipe, it has turned out EVERY time. I love making this and freezing the extra or even just eating it for the next week if you're budgeting.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Ingredients::

• Chuck Roast
• Vegetable oil (I use extra-virgin olive oil)
• Carrots - generally 1-2 cups
• Potatoes - 1-3 cups (really both of these depend on how big your crock pot is and/or what else you're going to be making with this)
• Onion - 2 tbsp (optional)
• Seasoning, store bought or custom made (I like to use taco seasoning, mild or hot depending on the mood. Generally 1/2-3/4 of a pouch)
• Salt (garlic salt is what I like to use) and pepper
• Beef or vegetable broth
• Optional: Bay leaves and/or thyme (add after adding roast to the crock pot)

Directions::

1. Wash carrots and potatoes. Skin potatoes and add all vegetables to the bottom of the crock pot. Add one tablespoon of vegetable oil to the crock pot as well.
2. Season the top of the roast with salt and pepper. With butter or olive oil in the pan, brown the seasoned side and season the opposite side while it's browning. I've been using heat at 6-7 (medium to high) for about five minutes a side. Turn over and brown the other side.
3. Add to the crock pot once both sides are seared. Add seasoning onto the top of the roast, generally covering the top with a nice layer of it (about 1/2 the package). See picture below.
4. Add water to the sides of the roast, covering all the vegetables on the bottom. Add some broth so the sides of the roast are covered, roughly a CM under the top of the roast.
5. Put on lid and set to high for an half an hour. NO FLIPPING!
6. Without taking the lid off, set to low for 5-6 hours. I generally try to check this around the 5 hour mark, as your don't want that sucker to dry out.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Next time I cook this, I'll be sure to take some pictures of the final product and update this post with how it turns out! 

Checking some rules of thumb from around the web:: "Generally, start out with about 1 to 1.25 hours per pound for cooking on high and 1.25 to 1.5 hours per pound for cooking on low." Ref

And here's the Best Yahoo Answer on dry meat.

Hope you all enjoy, I know this is one of my favorite "lazy" recipes. ;]

Enjoy and until next time.

Did Someone Say SCREEN TIME?

In a previous post from today I said I'd be finishing one of my long standing drafts... Well I only sorta lied. This post has been just a title for at least the last 2 weeks so, essentially I am finishing one, just not one that I've already spent hours on. That being said I don't plan on spending hours on this one, but if it does take over the course of a few hours, on and off, that's acceptable. =] I plan on buying a domain name for this blog/maybe future blog soon (maybe tonight, def by friday). There are a few for my someday fun-side business/ brand name, and blog type things are included in said plan. I have an Etsy page, but nothing listed, so I'm thinking about making a side one for all my random done bead projects. MMmMMMMMmm Beads.... I do take requests ;]

On to the topic of this silly little post..  I've been trying to diligently track all the movies/ Tv/ anime stuff that I watch (yea, I have screen addictions). All the DVD cases I've been packing back up over the last few months has made it really easy to add a mass amount at one time (not that I'm super close to being done lolz). It's kinda fun making sure, just like my books, that I don't end up rewatching something just because it didn't grab my attention the first time, or it was in the middle of a binge media consumption.

Here's a link to :: my IMDB

If someone has suggestions and it's not on my watched list, watch list, or otherwise list, please message me or comment on here. I'm always up for recommendations ;D

I while writing this, and getting ready for work tomorrow, I am watching Lakey Peterson: Zero to 100. Super good documentary! Another inspiring one. Sometimes I let netflix decide what I'm to watch when. As in when they put end dates on shows and movies, definitely changes priorities. Makes it fun ;]

Time for me to make a late dinner, enjoy your space travels. 

Happy Frackin' 2015

Good <insert time of day> fellow strange ones,

I can't believe how fast last year went. MADNESS. I am still typing 2014 everywhere and having to make corrections. Blogging.. will become more of a priority in the new year. I am so O.C.D. that I get stuck on the details and have many draft posts started at once. I get in the state that it's not refined or it will take hoursssss to finish and blah blah blah. It needs to change, is what I'm getting at. Come on me, YOU CAN DO IT! (Insert Rob Schneider's voice here).

Today I woke up at 7am so I could get my shit (chores) started. I want to check stuff of a list, It's exhilarating. Eating this early is a challenge for me, but that's another "resolution" of this year that I would like to improve upon. Working in IT and now making blog posts makes me realize how much my spelling has slipped and I rely upon spell check a bit more than I use to. =[ Grammar and reading speed are a resolution as well lolz.

=-=-=-=-=-PAST BLASTERS-=-=-=-=-=

When last year started, it was looking to turn into the worst year possible. I was in an outrageous situation and had little hope that anything would improve. I was in this funk until August, when my 4th Shambhala was coming up.. Then, I got in the zone. I wanted everything to change once I got back to the states. I was in the middle of moving when I left and had 1/2 my stuff in storage, 1/4 in a new room totally packed up and the last 1/4 at my old place for last week necessities. I had to borrow money and max out credit cards to make my vacation a dream and have two apartments at once in the middle of it all. But it was worth it. Best Shams of my life, and hope that things can only get better from there.

It seems putting myself in this mindstate made the entire experience a bit more... what's the word.. life changing? I've been able to work through reading a lot more books and organizing a lot of my physical shit (you know, ALL THE BOXES?!), and I donated more than any other year in my life. That felt really good, physical pounds I no longer had to carry with me. I'm not going to lie though, I do still have a 10x10 storage unit that's 1/2-3/5ths full. But at least it's all labeled and written down... Someday I'll get renters insurance... Sigh. One step at a time. ;]

This year has started off going rocketship-to-space fast. It's the twelfth!? What? lolz seriously. ;] A topic for another post.

Anyways, those drafts I mentioned in this first paragraph? I plan on posting at least one of them today and getting it finally done =] Not sure which one yet though, I guess that can be a surprise.

See You Space Cowboy..

Cirque Dreams: Holidaze... LIVE!

Now that it's been over a month since I've been over a month since going to Holidaze, I feel a bit late getting my review/ enjoyment post about it out. I wasn't planning on attending this amazing show, but after seeing a post at work where nine ladies were looking for a tenth for their ticket bundle. Trying to get out of my shell a bit more this year, I decided this would be a good opportunity to meet and greet some people I've been working with over the last few years.

Starting with a fantastic dinner at a nice restaurant, we carpooled over and got some snacks for the beginning of the show. Taking our assigned seats, and getting settled seconds before the lights went down, it started with some amazing gymnasts and two very talented aerial acrobatics (the ladies pictured below). Of course taking photos was not allowed in the theatre, mental notes are nonetheless amazing.

There were so many performers from all over the world. If ever given the opportunity. I highly suggest seeing any Cirque live show. Absolutely a work of art and masterfully constructed. The holiday theme was entirely enjoyable, and even involved a bit of audience participation.

Above are some jump roping reindeers; extremely impressive. And below, are some very amazing roller skating gravity showoffs =]

I will be making a point to seek these shows out in the future. Seeing feats of the human body in such ways is why I workout as often as I can, and am working on implementing it further into my daily life. FIVE out of FIVE. ;]

None of the photos/videos on this page are mine, of course, see below.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Photo/Video URLs (None of these are mine):
http://brickbreeden.com/events/cirque_dreams_holidaze/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YdaUKD2mDoQ
http://go.dallasnews.com/news/2012/dec/19/review-cirque-dreams-holidaze-dallas/