Mow The Lawn

I think this is great....

Six Degrees Of Separation

When I was a small girl, still playing board games and Barbies, the Ouija Board always promised that I would eventually marry a guy named Troy.

Just a few years ago, I met a guy named Troy, who at the time was in a relationship. When that relationship proved failure, Troy and I "hooked up." [I have no intention on marrying Troy, and we are no longer "hooked."]

Troy resides in the Logan Square, a community located on the northwest side of Chicago.

I just recently moved to the Logan Square neighborhood and live on North Troy Street.

In Minnesota, there is no shortage of Co-Op Grocery stores to shop at. In fact, within a 5 mile radius of my place there, I had 2 Co-Op Grocery stores to choose from.

Logan Square will soon be home to the only Co-Op Grocery store in Chicago.

Chicago Craigslist > City Of Chicago > Pets

Cute Shih Tzu puppy needs doggy-sitter (North Side, Chicago)

I have a small 11lb. quiet, clean, well trained, well-groomed Shih Tzu that is in need of a doggie sitter. I travel often for work and need a reliable sitter for the pooch to be with while I am gone. I travel anywhere between 2-20 days a month.

This job is really for the person that wants a pooch of their own without the expense, as I will provide all food, toys, vet bills, grooming, etc. BUT I do not have $$ to pay someone to watch the pooch. I can offer Hair Services (color, cut) for you and your immediate family/friends in exchange for your service.

The pooch enjoys a quiet home, and is fairly independent. He only barks occasionally and is very low-maintenance. Serious inquiries please contact me @ clashbabi@gmail.com with some information about yourself your work/living situation, why you would like to watch my dog, etc.)

I arranged this deal with someone in Minneapolis when I lived there, and it worked out quite well. She loves the dog as if he is her own, and borrows him on weekends when she will be alone.

Location: North Side, Chicago

This is reality, people. HELP!

a.k.a Ariel (the sexed-up version)

A mermaid is a mythological aquatic creature that is half human (torso), half aquatic creature (e.g., a fish or dolphin tail).Various cultures throughout the world have similar figures. The word is a compound of mere, the Old English word for "sea," and maid, which has retained its original sense. The male equivalent is a merman.

Much like sirens, mermaids would sometimes sing to people and gods and enchant them, distracting them from their work and causing them to walk off the deck or run their ships aground. Other stories have them squeezing the life out of drowning men while attempting to rescue them. They are also said to take humans down to their underwater kingdoms. In Hans Christian Andersen's The Little Mermaid it is said that they forget that humans cannot breathe underwater, while others say they drown men out of spite. [wiki]

Starting Over @ 26 - Take 3

Despite a lack of support, contrary to what many people believed would actually happen... I received a formal job offer in Chicago. i win. accused of being appointed this job that i have been interviewing for since october. multiple interviews. interview after interview after phone call after meeting after phone call after question after interview after phone call after meeting. i have given a formal departure notice to my current boss. he later yelled slash screamed at me... told me to grow up. i did not yell and scream back. i still win. no emotion. no emotion. no emotion. simply, reality. they can no longer bring me down. it's a done. deal. job starts march 1. moved to chi april 1. done. deal. i win. i greatly appreciate those who have supported me from day one. i highly despise those who worked diligently to slow me down. to back me up. to bring me down. i still win.

i ♥ chicago.
i ♥ chicago.
i ♥ chicago.

i'm headed back home. Starting Over @ 26

xox Happy Birdie

love is... never forgetting....

love is... following your heart

love is... being there to share in their achievements

love is... an empty space when they are gone

love is... helping to make the world a more caring place

love is... seeing them larger than life

love is... a labyrinth

Starting Over @ 26 - Take 2

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anxiety anxiety Anxiety Anxiety anxiety anxiety Anxiety anxiety Anxiety
anxiety anxiety Anxiety Anxiety anxiety anxiety Anxiety anxiety Anxiety
anxiety anxiety Anxiety Anxiety anxiety anxiety Anxiety anxiety Anxiety
anxiety anxiety Anxiety Anxiety anxiety anxiety Anxiety anxiety Anxiety
anxiety anxiety Anxiety Anxiety anxiety anxiety Anxiety anxiety Anxiety
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anxiety anxiety Anxiety Anxiety anxiety anxiety Anxiety anxiety Anxiety

"Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined."

[Henry David Thoreau]

Starting Over @ 26 – Take 1

rise & shine

the alarm clock rings. 6 AM. the world is still dark as my eyes slowly open. my hands feel around for my buzzing phone to cut the ear-piercing sound.

as i hop out of bed and turn a light on, i immediately begin my search for the pooch. i am never quite sure where i will find him in the morning.

that's right folks, last week i spent the WHOLE week (5 consecutive days!!) waking up to an alarm clock at the crack of dawn.

as long as i am in bed at a decent hour, i do not have a problem waking up early in the AM... not even in bone-chilling temperatures. my condo stays warmer than necessary. the pooch, on the other hand has no desire to be up at the crack of dawn. often times, i have to pick him up, carry him outside, and demand he potty as i already struggle to be on time.

by the time i drag myself (and all of the things i need for the day) out the door, the morning crowd is buzzing. i look around at other people in their cars and wonder what time they got up this morning and what time they hit the road. how is it that they had extra time to hit Starbucks, and i hardly had time to take the pooch out for his morning relief??

traffic is heavy in the morning and requires that i leave extra early. you see, when you don't ride morning traffic often, it is a challenge to predict how many cars will be headed in the same direction as yourself.

i enjoy CNN headline news, BBC Radio, and NPR on XM in the morning. i am always curious as to what time those people have to get out of bed in the AM to be at the station ready for broadcasting the news straight to the speakers in the Acura.

it doesn't matter how early i am forced to wake myself and rise from the bed... there is always someone that has experienced the rise and shine earlier than me.

i am certainly not a morning person, but will admit that it feels good to get up and get a move on the day.

monday morning... tomorrow... i will be forced out of the bed at 6 AM for the 6th consecutive work day. february is going to be a productive month for me.

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boy + glitteratti + cosmetics = not gay

Guy Working In A Cosmetics Store/Salon: I wish I were a hairstylist.
Girl Working at Cosmetics Store/Salon: Maybe you should pursue that career. The schooling doesn't take long.
Guy Working In A Cosmetics Store/Salon: WHAT!!?? Everyone would think I am gay...
Girl Working at Cosmetics Store/Salon: And... they don't have any suspicions when you wear chick's denim and a sparkly, rhinestone encrusted star-shaped belt buckle??
Guy Working In A Cosmetics Store/Salon: oh... right.

Chi-Bound

Although nothing is official, I am 100% sure I am moving back to Chicago before the summer hits. Just in time to enjoy the lake ....

It is impossible to forecast what my exact moving date will be, as dates are being thrown around between all of the people who have control over my life - Big Boss Daddy # 1 & Big Boss Daddy #2 & Big Boss Momma 1 & 2... seriously, there are that many people in control of my life.

In order to show enthusiasm (uh...) about my return to the Chi... I received this note (via facebook):

Hey, good to hear back from you. Thta's cool that you're in the CHI. Great time to be here..... What kinda job are you looking to get here? Tired of the minnie city? It would be nice to have you back in the CHI even though I'm sure I wouldn't see you. How's BJ* doin? Tiger** is doing great...he's really grown up and maturing. He'll be in 5th grade next year! :)-K

*BJ is the pooch. my pooch

** Tiger is the cat. HIS cat.

i'm going down.

i just spent the last half an hour attempting to de-frost my freezer with a blow dryer.

i spent the last two days driving to Iowa* and driving back home from Iowa. in a snow blizzard.

i have spent the last 3 days with my freezer hanging open, hoping that it would thaw it.

i came home to an open, frozen freezer after being in Iowa for 24 hours.

i experienced two mondays this week. sunday was monday and monday was monday.... and it is still monday.

tuesday means that i am obligated to drive to Duluth**. wednesday means that i will still be in duluth.

forget getting off of work at 5 and going home to the fresh food that is spoiling in my fridge, the pooch, or the boyfriend. this week, i have no time for a personal life.

friday means that i fly to Vegas. for the biggest Redken event on this planet. i should be excited. but instead, i am exhausted.

i just spilled a bottle of water all over my bed. the bed that i so badly want to cuddle up in and cry myself to sleep.

and it is still monday.

*No Man's Land

**No Man's Land

WoW

W Hotel
+
Voss Water
+
Acura
+
Liquid Metal
+
Puma

+

♫♪ ♫ ★ ♫♪ ♫
=

ME

(seriously. I could swear the W Hotel caters to my EXACT needs and wants)

W Hotel = My Love

Tis The Season

The holidays are a time of year for bright lights, bling bling, snow-topped trees (and cars), glitteratti, gift wrap, overwhelmingly large ribbons and bows, ice skating, shopping, and gift giving. Oh, and ...pumpkin pie.

Gift-giving is by far my favorite part of the holidays (the EXACT reason there will be no Hannukah celebrating for me this year.) I equally enjoy wrapping paper (and bling.) Despite my previous anxiety over the fact that "thoughtful" gifts can be quite challenging to 'think of', I have made my final decisions and am confident in the gifts that I am gifting this year.

Although gift-giving is much more important to me than receiving, I need you to refer back to my Christmas List. There are important updates to share. (updates are hi-lited in red)

My Official 2008 Christmas List:

• a remote car starter (...no updates at this time)
• The Little Mermaid II (I purchased this for myself - could not wait!!)
• A new mobile phone (anything but a blackberry. must have GPS) (CHECK...100% sold on the iPhone. I have gotten wind that I will be receiving some $$ towards my new iPhone ..thx mom!)
• a gift certificate to MAC (this was a just in case kinda thing... a girl can always use more MAKEUP!)
• a new bed frame (...hm.. no updates)
• a blingin watch (I am ALWAYS looking for a watch that outblings my current one) (i just received a new watch for my birthday. gucci. out-blings the DKNY's that I'm always rockin....)
• a filing cabinet from West Elm (CHECK. i am staring at an un-assembled filing cabinet sitting in the middle of my living room... thx dad)
• book shelves from West Elm (CHECK. 250$ GC to West Elm arrived in the mail. whoppee!)
• for my (new) car to be fixed because someone backed in to it last night!! GC to the auto body shop? (...yeah... my car still sits with a slight amount of damage. makes me sick to my stomach to think about.)
• OR a vacation home in Bora Bora ((drool)) (yeah... no updates... maybe that will be the grande finale surprise.)
  

Did I mention the rice cooker and pots & pans that Santa will be leaving under the tree for me?

Originally, I created my Christmas list as a joke...


On a more serious note, here are a few items that I would like to add to my Holiday slash Everyday List:

• The diminishment of all ego
• A world full of vegans
• A new perspective
• Wisdom
• Children Who Behave (other peoples children -of COURSE my children would be angels)
• Parents who discipline
• Alternate identities
• Freedom from guilt and regret
• Every day to be a vacation day
• One of everything
• World Peace
• a 6 pack
• Vegan Dog Food
  

seriously.

xox. Bird*

: : : NEWS FLASH : : :

MINNEAPOLIS — A number of young Somali men in Minneapolis have gone missing in recent months, and some fear the youths are being recruited to return to their homeland to fight with terrorist groups.

One of the men who disappeared is believed to have killed himself in an Oct. 29 suicide bombing in northern Somalia, according to a U.S. law enforcement official who spoke on condition of anonymity because the official was not authorized to speak publicly about the case. That official confirmed the FBI and Justice Department were investigating.

Another U.S. law enforcement official, also speaking on condition of anonymity, said authorities are calling it one of the first instances in which a U.S. citizen has acted as a suicide bomber.

The Oct. 29 bombings included a series of five seemingly coordinated attacks in the breakaway republic of Somaliland and the Somalia's Puntland region. More than 20 people were killed.

"We're aware of the circumstances in Somalia right now and the events of the Oct. 29 bombings. And we are aware that a number of individuals from throughout the U.S. and Minneapolis have traveled to Somalia to potentially fight for terrorist groups," said Special Agent E.K. Wilson, an FBI spokesman.

Members of the Somali community in Minneapolis said small groups of young men have been disappearing over the last year. Anywhere from 15 to 20 have left Minneapolis in recent months, said Omar Jamal, executive director of the Somali Justice Advocacy Center.

"We know for a fact this is happening, but we don't know who is doing it," he said.

Osman Ahmed, a Somali activist, said his 17-year-old nephew is among a group of at least seven people who went missing Nov. 4.

The Associated Press is honoring Ahmed's request to withhold the name of the teen for the youth's safety. Ahmed said the teen came to the U.S. as a young child and was an American citizen, like the others who left that day.

Ahmed said his nephew was a high school senior and had a normal routine of going to school, going home then going to the mosque.

"He was a very nice guy," Ahmed said. "He was very clever. Very shy. Very cool."

On Nov. 4, he told his mother a friend would pick him up from school, but he never came home.

"We started checking hospitals, we went to the police station," Ahmed said.

The family then realized that the teen's U.S. passport was missing, and Ahmed said authorities found a flight itinerary showing the teen arriving in Nairobi, Kenya, on Nov. 5.

Within two days, the teen called his mother, saying only that he was alive, safe and in Mogadishu, Somalia, Ahmed said. The teen gave no other details and has not been heard from since.

"We are praying to see him one day," Ahmed said.

Ahmed, who has been talking with other relatives of missing young men, said the families received similar phone calls.

Some members of the Somali community are concerned the young men are being recruited to go to Somalia and fight. The impoverished nation on the Horn of Africa is caught up in an Islamic insurgency and has not had a functioning government since 1991.

"It has to come to an end right now," said Jamal. "It has to stop. ... We have so many families grieving. We don't want any more kids to get brainwashed and programmed."

Jamal and Ahmed said it is suspicious because someone is providing money and transportation for the men to fly from Minnesota to Africa.

"My nephew, he doesn't have money for a ticket," said Ahmed. "None of these kids do."

Jamal said he hopes the situation isn't a black eye for the state's Somali community, which the U.S. Census numbered at more than 24,000 in 2006. Local activists claim the actual number is higher than that.

"We hope that this won't be an issue where the community will be looked at differently," Jamal said. "Somalis at large are very peaceful people. ... We don't want the Somali community to be looked at as a group of suicide bombers."

Source: Fox News
----------------

Remember how I live in a predominantly somalian neighborhood?

Here is another piece of news (almost as serious):
You can utilize the check boxes below my posts to "react" to the post.
(told you it was serious)

Bird*

Emotional Cowboy

I received a text today from a good friend. He asked that I blog it.

"Being emotional is borderline crazy... Heart won't follow the facts
or guide lines.... Cross the line and find yourself insane."

"Heart can drive you to victory, it can take you to the top. But once it's broken, it becomes your anchor."

-cowboy drew

I worry about him....

i am mermaid.

The 4 Steps to becoming a Mermaid:

#1. strip down to minimal clothing and allow artist to paint fins with glitteratti blingin acrylic paint

#2. Photographer snaps shots in multiple "mermaid-like" positions

#3. artist sketch (see below)

#4. the final image including iridescent gliteratti fun. (coming soon)

I was reminded today that i was still eating hotdogs, porkchops, burgers, bacon, and bologna when the early stages of my mermaid-ness were taking place. nasty.

in this photo, i was a carnivore. blah.

xox Bird* a.k.a Ariel

Protein Overdose

As a vegetarian, the #1 question I am asked is: "How do you get enough protein?!?!"

This question is especially annoying because the people who ask are obviously un-educated as to what a well-balanced meal really looks like (their idea of a hearty meal is steak/pork chops/meatloaf, fried potatoes, a dinner roll, and a diet coke.)

For those of you curious; vegetables, soy, legumes, fruits, nuts, seeds, and grains all contain protein.


Vegetarian Protein Reality:

Over the last few decades, wide spread practical experience of vegetarian diet, knowledge of traditional cultures, and hundreds of health/diet studies, all tell a different story.

• Too much protein is as harmful as too little, and is linked with shorter life expectancy, increased cancer and heart disease risk, widespread obesity and diabetes, osteoporosis, kidney stress, and bad digestion


• High protein-diets bring about temporary weight-loss, at the expense of overall health, and people quickly regain weight once they return to a normal diet


• A varied vegetarian diet with a balance of protein, fats & carbohydrates, and adequate calorie intake provides more than enough protein


• Complete animal protein is not superior to complete protein from more than one plant source – they give the same result in different ways


• Protein from plant sources doesn't include excess calories from fat, toxic residues, or an overabundance of protein, which stresses the kidneys

Protein deficiency is very rare in the US and is generally diagnosed in people living in countries suffering from famine. It's been estimated that the average person in this country eats two - six times more protein, usually from animals, than is needed for good nutrition.

So then comes the question on Thanksgiving. Am I REALLY NOT going to eat TURKEY on Thanksgiving. And to be completely honest, if i WERE going to eat meat, TURKEY on THANKSGIVING would be the last piece of meat on my list because I know the facts:

There are 300 million turkeys killed each year—more than 40 million during the holiday season alone—for human consumption. Turkeys on factory farms have their beaks and toes cut off without pain relief. They are crammed by the tens of thousands into dark, stifling warehouses where disease, smothering, and heart attacks are common. Today's turkeys are genetically bred to grow so quickly that their bones and leg muscles often give out under the stress of supporting their huge upper bodies. Millions of turkeys die every year from heat exhaustion, freezing, and accidents during transport.

Thousands of free-range turkeys are raised in a single warehouse-like structure forced to stand on accumulated fecal waste and breathe in ammonia fumes. These turkeys are then taken to the slaughterhouse through transport containers where they are hung upside down in shackles. There they cry out in fear and pain as they await their own slaughter. Think of how much it hurts when we get a little speck in our eye, and we might understand the degree of suffering that the turkeys are been forced to endure day after day.

And in an earlier post, I pointed out that the Union of Concerned Scientists points out that 70 percent of the antibiotics sold in the United States are used to treat healthy livestock...


Anyhow, due to my family being hundreds of miles away, I am spending Thanksgiving at home, alone, with the pooch. I have resorted to the couch, in boy shorts, un-showered, with Forrest Gump on the tube. I will take the opportunity to work on my Weekend Commitments

Oh, and did I mention the house next door was on fire this AM? 5 Fire Trucks parked outside of my window, Channel 5 news, & LOTS of firemen (including the Chief.)

Throughout the week, I have been busy creating my very own little Thanksgiving meal. On the menu: Sweet Potatoe Souflee, Apple Crisp, Butternut Squash Soup, Black Bean Salad, Minnesota Wild Rich & Squash, Spinach Salad, Jalapeno Cornbread, Apple Cider, Cranberry Fruit Salad, and Pumpkin Pie - mostly made from scratch. THAT's enough to be thankful for. (did i ever mention that i LOVE cooking in my kitchen??)

I rarely get excited about the holidays, for various reasons. The #1 reason tends to be the many obligtions that come including: being expected to showing thanks, thinking of thoughtful gifts, (gift-giving is no longer natural - it is EXPECTED), the consumption of garb foods, the guilt of gathering with relatives ONLY once a year , and a years worth of the positive & negative life stories (I feel guilty telling a positive story, when everyone else is living in the negative.)

I DO enjoy Gift Wrap. (actually, obsessed. I have a collection of wrapping paper, bows, string, glitteratti, need I go on?!?!)

And I DO enjoy receiving gifts. Refer back to my Official 2008 Christmas List

OH AND, I do enjoy sending Holiday Cards.

I have been humbled on this day, Nov. 27th, 2008.... Thanksgiving. I will pour one for all my Turkey homies that were literally plumped to death for your dining pleasure.




**Facts Found at: goveg.com, articlesbase.com, savvyvegetarian.com, peta.com

the best things in life are found on Craigslist

Determined to find a decently priced apartment to look at in December when I visit, I am now spending a good portion on my time browsing ads on Craigslist. I have not announced it to the world yet, but I plan on moving back to Chicago in Spring of '09.

I couldn't NOT share this ad that I came across while browsing through the Apt/Housing category.

$30 / 3br - -------------House Wife Wanted....All Expenses Paid.....SAVE $$ (Just South of Wicker Park)

You Provide: Laundry and house chores.

I Provide: All Housing Expense Paid......You Live For Free....And a chance to get ahead in life by living for free.......

Me: 28 M White, Attractive, Business Owner, Wicker Park

--I am Looking for a house wife

--You wash my laundry/ cook/ clean....I pay all of the bills....

-- I work 90- 100 hours a week, and am sick of spending my small amount of spare time doing house chores......

--Be my house wife and I'll pay all of the rent/ utility / tv / phone / internet / food / drinks / parking expenses you are currently paying!! You can save up $$ and get a jump start on life !!

--Please include your picture and #.....I'll call to answer any questions you may have.

-- And yes, this is a real ad, and no this is not too good to be true. I would just rather not spend my only day off washing clothes (10 loads per week of work clothes) / cleaning up the house and my office....

dogs are OK - wooof
Location: Just South of Wicker Park

Tempting. I think I am the right person for the job. (If not, Phil, I will find out if he would be open to a "house husband.")

Lipstick & the City

I decided to venture out of the house today and treat the pooch to a nice afternoon at the dog park. Although it is cold outside, it was not unbearable... and the pooch has been slightly anxious to get out of the house ( I know this because he whines at me CONSTANTLY.)

Little did I know, the pooch (who was wearing the cutest little black jacket) would become the center of attention at the dog park.

When we visit the dog park (frequently in the spring/summer) we typically go to the park for big dogs, not small dogs ALTHOUGH my dog is only 11 lbs. He enjoys the big dogs, and gets himself in to less trouble. He gets waaaay too excited around the other small dogs.

Today, after roaming around by himself for quite some time, he found a gorgeous lassie-looking dog (50-75 lbs) to focus all of his attention on. Lassie was laying down chewing on a stick, when my pooch decided to take the opportunity to get behind Lassie and mount her. Lassie didn't even notice, but EVERYONE ELSE in the dog park did. There was one point in time that 3-4 people had their camera phones out not just taking pictures - but recording the dominatrix (a.k.a my pooch) in hump-mode. It WAS quite the site. Quite embarassing. The pooch has a reputation of being "romantic" but has also been referred to as Duece Bigalow.....

Eventually, I had to pull my dog off of Lassie and carry him out of the park. He is currently sprawled out on the couch with all 4 legs in the air. Relaxing after his big super-star day at the dog park.

On the lighter side of dog talk I got an e-mail from my grandparents and read this: "...We took Hunter (their dog) to the Mall yesterday in his stroller. He really enjoys that...."

wow.

(((change of subject)))

In less than 24 hours, my dreams of celebrating Hannukah this year have been shattered.

I was not aware that Hannukah is one of the best known holidays simply because of it's proximity to Christmas, It has become part of "The Holidays." Hannukah is often referred to as the "Jewish Christmas" and has adopted many of the Christmas traditions such as gift giving and elaborate decorating - although this is not traditional for the jews. Basic tradition is the lighting of the candles, spinning a dreidle, and eating fried food. Not much for celebrating.

SO I am back to celebrating the Holidays just like the Christians do, just like I did growing up. Santa Clause, Reindeer, and GIFTS... oh... and baby jesus!

To begin my holiday celebration I am going to create a Christmas list. (don't make me get out the JCPenny catalog)

My Official 2008 Christmas List:

• a remote car starter
• The Little Mermaid II
• A new mobile phone (anything but a blackberry. must have GPS)
• a gift certificate to MAC
• a new bed frame
• a blingin watch (I am ALWAYS looking for a watch that outblings my current one)
• a filing cabinet from West Elm
• book shelves from West Elm
• for my (new) car to be fixed because someone backed in to it last night!! GC to the auto body shop?
• OR a vacation home in Bora Bora ((drool))

xox bird