When you find what you were never searching for...

Outside Myself

Outside Myself
Location
West Coast Body, East Coast Heart, California,
Birthday
January 19
Title
Mom/Provider
Company
Don't even have to knock...come on in.
Bio
I am now 44 and perfectly OK with that (but I still love it when my friends say I look like I'm 35!). I've been a mom for over 11 years now. I live a rather simple yet difficult life of trying to make sure my daughters are polite, well-educated and know they are loved beyond question. I do my best to give my family whatever they need. And I'm trying to take care of myself. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx I am infinitely trying to make people happy, make people laugh, make people feel good about themselves. I compliment often, but only with sincerity. I spend way too much time thinking about what might be the "right" thing to do in any given situation. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx This is a personal journey for me. I have grown in ways I didn't know were possible. AND AN UPDATE: Don't forget your worth. This speaks to everyone, not just me. xoxoxo ~~~~ And thx, B. My heart was beginning to thaw but your beautiful friendship has melted it. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx FURTHER UPDATE: - B, darling, you have brought me love and peace. You sent the words, "Be gentle with yourself." I am able to do so only because you have been gentle with my heart. I love you, soul mate.xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx And now, it's been 18 months... So incredible to recall where I was and where your love has taken me...xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx And now, two years have passed since those first simple PMs...

MY RECENT POSTS

MAY 25, 2012 9:31AM

Ice Cream for Breakfast Day!

 (I haven't been here at all lately, but this "Please wear your seat belt" message is always timely. My girls and I will be having ice cream again this morning...  Sending love to you all, ~Angela)

 

~ ~ ~ ~

 

I'm hanging upside down, suspended by my seat

Read full post »
FEBRUARY 23, 2012 1:38PM

WANTED: Nice CEO

I know, I know - - get in line!

Is it really too much to ask for, though?

I have worked in a start-up biomedical devices company as the third person hired and took care of everything from office equipment to HR to supporting the CEO.  I really liked my boss, and… Read full post »

FEBRUARY 14, 2012 11:51AM

Tunnel of Love

I always knew I could love someone every day of my life.  I knew I had the capacity to give everything in my heart.

I just also knew that I would be older.....before I could begin to look for love......when my girls were out of the house and I could take… Read full post »

 

 

If you click on the words below, you'll get an idea of the simplest of things we share.

 

A little video I sent to Smithery a while back...the view from my window.

 

 

~ ~

 

 

Me, talking to Smithery...

 

 

~ ~

 

 … Read full post »

NOVEMBER 1, 2011 8:03PM

She talks in her sleep...

Faith.  This youngest child of mine.  She talks in her sleep.

 

She just turned 10 years old not two weeks ago.

 

When she talks in her sleep (sometimes she and her sister sleep with me) I grab my iPhone and immediately write what she says.

 

A couple of… Read full post »

JULY 29, 2011 12:00PM

Little Pink Room

"Do you want to share some Indian food?  I'm ordering from the place across the street."

 

She doesn't know if she likes Indian food but since she's starving, she says to her co-worker, "Sure, I'm not picky."  Then she remembers that when she first started work… Read full post »

JULY 25, 2011 4:30PM

where do i stand?

 

 

 

Climbing up?

 

 

Or walking down?

 

 

stand

 

 

Hmmm... Read full post »

JULY 19, 2011 12:42PM

Sometimes it's Hard to Let Go

When Grace was little - oh, between the ages of two and five - she used to ride on this pink and teal Big Wheel-type plastic tricycle.  I don't remember where I got it, but it was used. Thrift store? Garage sale?  Dunno. 

This little vehicle had only one plastic ha… Read full post »

Today is not your typical OS Anniversary.

Today, I do not celebrate my one year anniversary on the site.

Today, I do not celebrate my two year anniversary on Open Salon.

No, both of those moments have already passed.

 

Today, I celebrate the two year anniversary of the day a… Read full post »

HMB1 

 

 

HMB2 

 

more hmb 

 

 

HMB3 

 

 

 

HMB4 

 

 

HMB5 

 

 

HMB6 

 

 

HMB9

 

 

HMB8 

 

 

HMB10 

 

 

SF1 

 

 … Read full post »

I posted this a long time ago and although I'm mostly MIA these days (that will change soon!), I've quietly watched enough lately to decide that this would be a good re-post!  :-) 

Miss y'all!

Love,

Angela 

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Not intended to diminish… Read full post »

JANUARY 31, 2011 5:06PM

"Death Chili"

I know!  Who would give a chili that name?  I assure you, it was not the maker of the cookbook from which I obtained this recipe many moons ago.

Yes . . . I'm afraid that I gave it that name.

Why?

Logic, of course! 

It makes a ton.  It freezes… Read full post »

NOVEMBER 21, 2010 2:04PM

GNS - A Visit from Love

 
 ~ ~ ~
 
Thanksgiving brings a special visitor.
 
For a special visit.
 
To a special place.
 
~ ~ ~
 
Thanksgiving brings the man I love to my parents' home for the first time.
 
And then...
to my favorite location...
the grand Pacific Ocean.
SEPTEMBER 20, 2010 7:14AM

"Proud Dad All the Time"

dad   
 
 
"...proud dad all the time."

This was the first thing I liked about you, before I even knew who "Smithery" was.  I read this in your bio when I first came to OS, not remembering whose it was out of the dozens I read when I/Read full post »
SEPTEMBER 11, 2010 10:05PM

San Bruno . . . My hometown

 

An explosion lives in my soul right now. 

 

sad 

 

I grew up in San Bruno.  Went to school.  Played sports.  Had Homecoming and Prom in high school.  Walked to the 7-11.  Slid down the hills on cardboard boxes.  Had my first kiss behind the… Read full post »

AUGUST 12, 2010 12:02PM

Liquid Heart

 

heart

 

 

 

My heart ~

you hold so gently.

 

Often,

it is simply liquid,

barely holding together,

wanting to fall to the ground. 

 

And yet...

you cannot allow it.

You will not let it.

 

Somehow...

you gently hold that heart...

 

anguished

confused

tr… Read full post »

JULY 26, 2010 2:28PM

Did I Lick His Sweat?

 

Last year I lost 35 pounds and I was simply giddy about it!  

not me 

(not me :) 

 

I lost about 10 just before my daughters' school year ended and over the summer, I set my alarm for 5am and walked the neighborhood for 60-90 minutes.  I did this… Read full post »

This is a special repost for me, considering the fact that I've recently admitted to wishing I had more time to read you, my friends on OS.
 
I will also note that less than two months after I originally posted this on February 9, Betty, the blonde in the photo,… Read full post »
JULY 17, 2010 11:57PM

The Kiss of Death

I know it. I've seen it. I get it.

 

It can be the kiss of death as an OS participant to admit that you've been absent because life has gotten in the way, and you're unsure of your ETR (Estimated Time of Returning).

There's sometimes this unintentional sigh of relief....."Whew… Read full post »

 

Little Opie Cunningham! This was sweet OM; I haven't seen this musical since I was a kid; thanks for posting.

JUNE 28, 2009 10:01 PM 

 

 

 

I had been seeing Smithery's comments around OS in prior months, and he was SO wise and thoughtful and warmRead full post »

No, no, I'll be fine. Just checking on some chest pains.

Oh, as a note to the ER Registration nurses out there, if someone comes in at 5am with chest pains, could ya just APPEAR to be moving quickly? :-) Actually, she didn't even check…

Read full post »

JUNE 15, 2010 12:11PM

Dad ~ "You're Not BALD..."

1 

Me, my dad and my sister Renee - in our back yard.

I was probably 3 years old - and had really chubby cheeks!

 

2 

My sister Renee, my dad and me - at Niagara Falls (I remember thinking it was cool that Dad and IRead full post »

 

In response to Kim Gamble's Open Call, I offer the words below that brought me to tears...the best kind. 

 

Smithery and I are very careful to keep most parts of our romance to ourselves.  We don't "play to the cameras" - we don't say or do or write things th… Read full post »

 

It's time to play in the sandbox for Scanner's birthday party!!!

He's one cool kid who would never throw sand (well, except at the mean kids).

 

 

We're having a party here and I was wondering what y'all would bring?

 

 

I'd bring SUNSCREEN 'cause I know itRead full post »

I'm seeing how much fun these new changes are on OS and I have to ask:

 

What was your very first comment on OS?

 

Mine is a bit embarrassing but it reminded me of how very much my life has changed since I've been on OS.  (I was in… Read full post »