Only two because I know when I get home I will have to enter these purchases into my newly created expense sheet and guilt will spread across me causing me to fear the worst, like I may undo my entire monthly budget…LOL  I’m kidding about that of course, but the knot in my stomach did make me relish the days where I didn’t give this entire matter a whole lot of thought.  Before expense tracking I would have seen them at the cheap prices, reasoned: I needed them, they’re ridiculously cheap, I been wanting to read his books… and bought them with NO remorse.  Excited to have found them so cheap.  Instead my new commitment to getting my bookkeeping/finance tracking all ship shape has left me nervous, tense, jumpy when I spend money.  No kidding.  The whole drive home I had a tight stomach over this purchase.  I was thinking, “Why did I spend that money?  I hope these books end up being worth it for me to read.”  I nearly reeled my truck around and took them right back.  However I’m happy to report… once I began reading, “Think Big and Kick Ass”, a title that Caleb had to point out had a swear word in it, repeatedly, and I think because I’ve told the kids that every time they catch me swearing I have to pay 50 cents to the one who catches me first… so I think his little mind was hawking for some way to connect that word to me and some cold hard cash to him, I couldn’t put it down.

I have to say I love it.  It’s an easy read.  It’s great material.  And it has been worth every penny.  I think that if one is to be successful business wise then how can you go wrong if you follow others who have more than made it?  What do they have to lose sharing info with me?  I mean, Trump is one of the wealthiest individuals in the world.  He doesn’t have competition that is going to sweep away his lively hood.  So when he writes a book it cuts through it all and gets to the truth and the heart of the matter.  It’s obvious that he’s sharing because he really wants to assist.  And what he says obviously works and should be heeded and applied.  I can read this book with confidence.

So far one thing I’ve leaned about him is that whatever he does he does because it’s his love and passion.  Thus, it’s not really work to him.  It’s his life.  It’s what excites him.  A while back I read Martha Stewart’s book and she says the same thing.  Here are two individuals doing what they love and having tremendous financial gain as a result.  Making this thought a great example to follow and excites me because I’m doing this very thing myself.  What I’m involved with with our businesses I really enjoy.  Rendering what I do not work.

Besides that another thing this books is doing for me is encouraging me.  Propelling my vision.  Building my hope.  Driving me harder toward my goal.  Getting may attention where I may be being sloppy spurring me to zing that area into being… on the ball.

I recommend this book to anyone in their own business.

Night, love ya,
Theresa Jane
-whose thankful for my job I worked today, my kids I was able to be with today, the meeting we had tonight, the project I’m involved in spear heading, friendship, my health, good food, and my home

It’s so cool how one works and works and does and does and then suddenly pop, zing, you can stand back and stare at what you’ve accomplished.
So.  Soon.  Very, very soon I’ll be sharing with you… a string of completed projects.  Is that exciting or what??

Stay tuned 

Had a meeting with all of Zac’s teachers and the principle at 9 a.m. this morning…
Missed school needed to be discussed and taken into consideration.  The teachers were unaware of the severity of Zac’s condition.  Some didn’t have a clue at all.  The woman that’s in the office where does his period as an office aid, instead of gym, shared that Zac had told her he was having problems with his kidneys and that he repeatedly stated, “But it’s not life threatening.”  So, of course this had caused her to sense that something was seriously wrong with Zac’s health and even though he wasn’t expressing it verbally he’s scared and/or very concerned.

I was overwhelmingly supported by the principal with my request to lighten his load and to see what options we had with the rest of the year so that he might pass.  I was very thankful for her position and caring attitude.  She truly was my advocate during the meeting and therefore ultimately Zac’s.  In all my years of dealing with my sons health issues, both in the medical arena and school I have never had anyone step forward and without request or prodding become my advocate to such a degree, until today.

My heart was deeply, deeply touched.  Gratitude flooded me with emotion.
However, I had to suppress tears a couple times while being surprised at two of his teachers positions.  These two needed continuous reminding by the principal that Zac has serious/critical health concerns that are life threatening making his school the secondary consideration and certainly homework, needing to be done after a long day at school that tires him, was not much of a concern at all.   Here are two of the more notable moments of their input:

• One teacher went into a lengthy dissertation wanting to know if I was prepared to be responsible for Zac being passed on to high school with serious gaps in his education since his grades all year have been very low and were it’s being considered to lower his requirements all the more.  Putting him at risk all throughout high school. (which I really don’t agree with at all)
• Another teacher was gratingly disgusted that Zac didn’t seem to care to try in her class esp. after all of her offers to help him “one on one” during his lunch break.

I pointed out that several things: Zac’s health had obviously been declining before we or the doctors were aware.  Therefore it stands to reason that Zac’s grades would reflect that.  How I had also seen him decline all year but didn’t know what to make of it really.  For instance at home he was getting to where he didn’t want to do much of anything for himself anymore and I shared other bits of examples as well.  I went on to say more when the principal stepped in and took over.

• To the first she informed: that whether Zac went on to high school or not was a decision that would lie with the IEP committee and if he was moved forward than that would be their decision.
• To the second she pointed out: that Zac is a student that is in academic classes all day due to his needing academic support and to ask him to give up his one break from it is something that is unreasonable.

There was more but I think my post is long enough and you get the picture.

I will tell you I was speechless with the support and it drown out the negative from the “2″.

Overall three teachers and the principal were amazing to deal with and I’m thankful for their support that he has received and will continue to receive from them.  I do hope time and sleep will jar the others into more consciousness…

In regards to his care at school his output is being modified and they are looking into having him on a half day for the rest of the year.  So that he might not get so worn out during the week causing him to miss more school because he’s just too tire to attend.  I love the idea.  Hope that it’s possible and if it is that the doctor will write the script supporting this well thought out solution.

Night, love ya,
Theresa Jane
-the ex’s attitude was better today even when he came home as I was serving up Zac’s dinner, just before heading off to work

I’m hitting scream level and totally up to my ears in it. John2 was here and he said, “Yeah, I understand what you’re saying, but that was the only way I’ve learned and still learn anything that has to do with computers or the internet.” Well, that annoyed me. I wanted him to join me, to complain, kick the internet, and tell it to just go to hell in a hand basket, take a long walk off a short pier. To disappear off the face of the planet. It was all I could do to suppress snapping at him. So I walked away. Went to see what food was in the refrigerator. Discovery: Stabbing my chef’s knife into an acorn squash and then retching it down to slice it in half not only allowed me to cut that blasted thing in half much easier then the way I’ve been doing it, it also helped me released some steam. I’m now recommending this. And while your at it follow up with vigorously peeling potatoes and roughly cutting them in pieces also adds to the effect.

Added this tonight:
Well that was earlier, now I’m “serene.” All together. Nice and peaceful–just ignore the clinched jaw, it’s nothing. Really. Focus on the placid smile on my face. Just wish I hadn’t totally burned an entire tray of Pillsbury Halloween shape cookies to the delicate shade of black, setting off the fire alarm and alerting the entire world, before “serene” washed over me. Those cookies were supposed to be for a special treat for the kids. Okay and yeah, a few were going to be for me.

So now that I’m all calm I can say I know this is the better way ultimately. Anything you have to work at to learn and understand makes it your own. Allows you to really and truly learn it, every aspect. But really, earlier. Phish. Like who really cared? Me? Nope. I waded it all up and dumped it in the trash! Now I’m smoothing out the wrinkles and leaving it next to the computer and going to bed. That will seriously help!

Love ya, Night,
Theresa Jane
-who knows her tweets today sounded like I was all sweet and happy, but that was me making an effort to find my happy spot. Once I got to my blog I had to reveal the truth to my friends!

It’s been a full day. John2 and I had two phone meetings today, one with that guy I mentioned before that’s been in film for over 20 years and helped us before. Then we had one with just us. Among other meeting results we, well he more than me, came up with the perfect logo idea for our company: Free The Mind Productions. Completely different then the direction we were going in. But that’s the way creativity moves. John1 grabbed the idea and ran. In no time flat he was emailing me his creation and the stationary! He even free drew the picture on the computer. It’s not super detailed mind you, but if I were to go about doing it I wouldn’t have had all that done in under an hour and half, tweaks included. But then he did see it clearly in his mind, so that totally helps. Being an artist totally helps. Working with a publishing program for years also helps. Well, I get some of the credit pie, because WE had the meeting. I mean without me where would we have been We’re letting the logo sit for a few days then we’ll come back and look at it again and finalize. Once done I’ll share it!

We lost our graphic artist that’s worked with us for a year. So I’ve been scrambling to find a new one. We have a client that wants a book printed. EEEkkkk. Been emailing and calling people for a couple days. Besides talking with a few, I viewed a boat load of portfolios today. They’ve all merged into one sticky blob up there in my brain.

Worked a teeny bit more on understanding optimizing. I went to Google AdWords and used the Keyword tool to see what were keywords for my blog and Red Book and Cotton’s web site. Took awhile to figure out where the heck the page was to actually put the web sites in, then it was sticky and didn’t want to work, but then, it generated a list. I also tried to see where the rankings were on our sites. Don’t worry I’m not suffering from grandiose thoughts. I didn’t think we’d be soaring to the top of the charts or anything. I was just curious. Took it a long time for it to do it’s thing and when it was done I had no earthly idea what it was telling me. Couldn’t find a “translator” anywhere. Blah!

Saw my kids for awhile. Zach true to form said, “I don’t have any homework.” Got ornery when I pressed the matter. Zach’s teachers seem to have been on a “no homework streak” for a couple months now. I smell failure in the wind. SIGH. Helped Dan learn his spelling list. Test tomorrow. Had it been today, wellllllll, let’s just say it’s a good thing it wasn’t. When we were done he asked, “Want to go to McDonald’s? I’m stressed. I’ll pay.” He whipped out his wallet and produced a 5 spot, proof of his creditability.” Bless his little heart. He used the last of his b-day money to go out with me. What was he stressed about? I asked and he said, a touch forlorn, “Oh I don’t want to talk about that. Anything but that.” And that’s what we did.

Love ya,
Theresa Jane
-whose putting her backside in bed, it’s now 2:30 am. Hope it’s not too late I feel my second wind kicking in. . .