Oh Fer Cryin' Out Loud

I've been to two trainings so far as a guest for the search and rescue team. I go to my third this weekend.

Being out in the wilderness "local wilderness" has been awesome.

So, time to get my dog - my partner in searching. I've been talking to breeders which is a whole new deal for me. But very interesting!

Looks like it's definitely a German Shepherd as I had one growing up and I admire their working ethic. ;) AND they have an awesome prey drive.

Looking for a new truck too. Although don't want a new one. I was thinking an older Toyota 4Runner. ;)

So, wanted to check in... I'm gonna be dancing through my buddies blogs within the next few days 'cause I miss ya all!

Hugs, and love and light,

Monica

It could be just that I suddenly am paying attention, but it sure seems to me there are a plethora of natural disasters occuring as of late. Let's see if I can list them?

NOT in any order - only what I'm going through on the web right now:

• "Swarm" of earthquakes hitting Reno, Nevada USA (344 of them?!). The article ("Quakes Confuse Experts, Send Kids Under Their Desks" By Sean O'Key CNN) was dated 5/1/2008.
• 6.8 Earthquake offshore 100 miles northeast of Tokyo. The article ("6.8 Earthqake Shakes Tokyo" by AP Published on CNN)
• Myanmar Cyclone. The Article ("US Envoy: Myanmar deaths may top 100,000" by CNN published on CNN)
• Chile's Volcano Erupting and Evacuations happening. The Article ("Volcano spurs Chile Town's Evacuation" By CNN)

There are more than that... is Earth upset?!

I think I'll send out some love and light to our planet. :) She needs it.

As for the families of those that have lost a loved one, they get to have some love and light as well.  What a disasterous month!

Mon

I've had many "dreams" or "pulls" in my life ~ always towards a life purpose. I have children, one purpose in my life was obviously to be a momma to 3 and a step mom to one. Another purpose was to take Daniel as my husband, there was plenty of Universal Guidance at play with that one (believe me!).

So why have I felt like I haven't done what I'm supposed to be doing in another aspect of my life?

I'm an accountant and small business adviser. I'm even a database gal too! I own my own business. But does being in that career give me a purpose? No. Sadly, no.

No one is going to be all the better in their "life" if I do their books, banking, or database. They may be able to go home at night without worrying about tasks, but does it contribute to their welfare? Nope. Again, sadly, no.

So what's missing? I have a huge VOID in my life. I'll explain a bit of Monica 101 to you.

1) Graduating from High School I was signed up for a 7 year agreement with the Air Force. My scores were high, and I could choose certain career paths. I chose a Security K9 Specialist. That would have meant, (as long as it held), I would get a dog and train for anything... bombs, narcotics, firearms... etc. I was SO completely excited as my date to leave approached. Sadly, again... something happened to get me OUT of the military. I won't go too much into it, but suffice it to say when I could actually enter - I was 7 weeks pregnant. Doh!

2) After having babies and such I began a massive amount of applications, ride-alongs, testing for Police departments. By that time my brother was an officer, and the two of us would have just been in the same career. Hey, that was right down the same alley and perhaps I could go into investigations for a city or K9 unit! Obviously, that wasn't the way the Universe decided I should go so a certain issue came up and OUT of that I was.

3) ... the here and now - investigating into SAR K9. This is search and rescue K9 team. Completely volunteer!

I'm at #3 now. I've contacted the local CARDA chapter and one of the trainers contacted me back and took time with me explaining the different disciplines. The work of being a volunteer Search and Rescue team is quite tough, and the trainings are 2x a week with you and your dog. Not to mention the certifications that are required of course. Red Cross certs, First Responder 80 hour training + ALOT MORE! It takes about 2 years for you and your dog to be "Mission Ready". It's a serious commitment to be sure and one I don't take lightly.

I cannot tell you how completely excited I am about reaching towards this venture and perhaps life long endeavor. I'm going on Sunday with them to a training in the hills and brush nearby. I'll be bringing my hiking boots, backpack and ever curious mind. I am so completely EXCITED!

I had contacted this group about 7 years or so ago and realized at that time that being a single momma and getting called out for a search in the middle of the night (you KNOW that's when they happen. ;) ) I'd have an issue with the kids. So I decided with the guidance from the team member that waiting until they were older would be a much better position to be in.

So here I am. Researching everything I possibly can regarding what type of searches I need to be trained for. Happy that my car can get me to Longitude and Latitude coordinates, 'cause that's how they give out locations for trainings... LOL Phew.

Excitement aside ~ I have been asked for years why this is something I've wanted to do. I mean being in the Wilderness perhaps, or at a recent disaster, searching for folks in need - yes Dead or alive by the way. Many friends and family have always asked "why would you do that?". I have searched for the words to explain and I guess it boils down to ~


For me it would be a privilege to serve others in this way.

As for the dog, they know of breeders for GSDs (German Shepards) which is the breed I'm most interested for this. Although, I keep looking at Sammy and his nose of doom (seriously you cannot hide from this dog!) wondering if it wouldn't be an idea to see what he's capable of. Who knows, I'm not at that point yet.

I'll blog on how it went and if I could keep up!

Love and Light to you and yours,

Monica

I love this quote!
Imagine if we all decided

To be what we view the world

To become...

What if it was the same?

Everlasting Peace and Harmony
I'm with that...


~Monica~

On This Beautiful Day there are Souls entering

and Leaving Our Existence.

Right now, in this moment I choose to BE

and to tell you right now, right here...

I'm gratful for you sharing this moment and time with me



~Monica~

Have any of you heard "Bleeding Love" by Leona Lewis? Not sure if I like the words, but it's so stuck in my head! Hee hee.Another song seems to be "Paralyzer" by Finger Eleven. I made a playlist at Playlist.com. Have any of you tried it? I learned about it on MySpace ofcourse, as folks have theirs on their pages. :) Quite fun actually.

Let's see if that gets published on here. Music always makes me feel good, even rock. This is a test post really to see if I can put it up there.

 

It's common right now to hear a neighbor say they will be moving from the area I live in.  They aren't moving up as was the case years ago when I bought, instead they are walking away from their homes.  They pack what they can, have a huge sale sometimes - I saw someone selling a babies crib while she was holding her baby telling someone she'll just have the infant sleep with them for awhile until they can afford another crib. 

What's happening?

When I bought my house I got a "sub-prime" loan myself.  It was my first home purchase and I was a single mother.  I got 100% financing on a $320,000 USD house.  My payments were about $2,100 - definately do-able.  However, it was to go to an adjustable loan in just a few years.  That freaked me out.  I remember asking for a 30 year fixed loan, 'cause that sounded more stable to me.  The folks doing the loan said that wasn't a good idea because I couldn't take advantage of the 100% financing (which I needed) and the interest rate would be a point higher.  So, purchase it I did - with a loan that could go funky in a few years. 

I got out of that loan - took out $$$ and paid off all debts.  My home had about doubled in appraised value in a year or so.  Nice.  Still seemed weird to me.  To easy I thought.

Now, I wasn't the only one that suddenly had tons of equity and was refinancing... others did as well, and some got into horrific loans.  But - you were urged to take certain types of loans.  Well, I did another refinance after I got married and got into a more secure loan - my husband and I own two properties together. 

For me, there isn't an issue of a house payment that would put me under... but for many, many MANY of my neighbors and folks all over the USA - this isn't the case.

Our neighbors have walked out on houses because the home value was so low it wouldn't pay back the bank.  Their payments went up to a few times the amount they could afford.  So what else ya gonna do?

On our court there is a fella that doesn't have electricity.  In fact, they've come to take off his meter - OFF THE HOUSE!  How's that for turning off your electricity and gas huh?  I've heard he's in foreclosure... a neighbor has an extension cord going to the man's house to give him some electricity to survive on.  I just found out he's giving him food too. 

I feel very badly for these folks.  Very badly for them.  I hear others whisper "well if so-n-so didn't get a house that he/she couldn't afford they wouldn't be in this mess".  Yes, true.  But where did the "Holier than thou" attitude show up in all of this?

I see a line being drawn between those that have and those that have not.  Why?  Couldn't compassion come into play here?  Why would folks be so mean.  Kids are getting uprooted... I see folks around the area depressed - really depressed... that can't be good.  :(

I read in a Foreclosure activity report that in California alone there were 64,711 notices of default/foreclosure notices sent out in March - one month!!   This is hurting all of us and it's sad.  My home probobly is worth less right now than the loan, who knows... I don't care though, we are here for a long while... so, it doesn't matter.  There was a housing "bubble" if you will and it seems to have corrected itself.

I find myself feeling thankful... but very mindful that neighbors should be there for one another, not "I have mine and you don't".

Love and Light (and off the soap box),

Monica

Oh my goodness I love that space!  Lately I've been a smidge (don't ya love that word?!) off-balance spiritually.  Why?  I'm allowing too many outside negative energies (emotions) to run rampant in my ever so spongy brain.

SO - outside I've been.  Smilin' ear to ear in my little (now closed off to the outside world - um, peeping neighbors) sanctuary (care of Lowe's department store).

I've been looking around for meditation cushions now... I did buy a candle chandelier (whoot!) and that's on it's way.  

Oh so nice!

Oh so peaceful!

Oh so balancing!

Love and Light,

Monica (who's ready to move outdoors)