My Life Adventure / Spiritual Journey Journal

http://blog.spiritualsmarts.com

That's where everything is.

Love,
David

Well, yes, I've changing my physical address a few times since I lasted updated here ... but that's not what I'm talking about.

I've pretty much moved my online presence, including all blogs/news updates, to MySpace.

Find me at http://www.myspace.com/lifeadventurer8 and add me as a friend. I look forward to seeing you there, if not already. ;)

Peace, my friends,
David Michaels

Current Location: Los Angeles, CA

I'm moving. Again. *sighs and rolls eyes*

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-David

Current Mood: crazy

Just a quick update... I've extended my family. :)

Last year (right around this time, come to think of it) I bought a couple baby turtles at the mall. Leonardo and Donatello. Remember? :) Anyway, when I left Florida, I released them into the wild, an ideal habitat for them... But I still had my parakeet, Charlie. Charlie Bird. lol.

Charlie loves me very much. He's VERY attached to me. (Birds bond and mate for life.) And I love him very much, too. I know birds are very social creatures. If Charlie saw me leaving the room, he'd quickly fly out of his cage and land on my shoulder. He wanted to go with me, wherever I was going. It was so cute. :)

But I can't always be there to play with Charlie. So I decided to take the plunge and get him a friend.

I've had Charlie for 2-3 years now. He's this beautiful yellow and green parakeet. So when I went to the pet shop, I picked out a goregeous blue and white parakeet. For some reason he reminded me of a snow-capped mountain. So I called him "Snowy Mountain," or just Snowy for short. ;)

Snowy was a bit traumatized by the trip from the pet store to his new home...but he quickly adjusted and is now doing fine. Charlie, on the other hand, has been ecstatic! I haven't seen him so energetic and happy in a long time. He immediately took a liking to his new roommate and I can tell the two birds are gonna get along fine. :)

Snowy's pretty young. Less than a year, I'm guessing. And a bit smaller than Charlie, too. Both are so cute, though. I'm happy that Charlie's happy. I'm happy to have more pets to love. :) :)

Just wanted to share the news.

Peace all!
-David

Seriously.

I was finishing up shaving, after my shower today, when I heard someone knocking at the door. "Coming!" I yelled. I quickly dried my face (I had *just* finished shaving) and threw on my shirt, to go answer the door. The UPS guy was there with a box. ... A box, for me.

I signed for it, wondering what the heck it was, because I wasn't expecting anything.

Then I opened it. And behold: the iPod Nano.

Where'd it come from?

Jump back several weeks, Katey was attending a Human Resources conference down in Long Beach, representing her company. She invited me to come along. Although the conference wasn't specifically for me, I still had fun talking to different exhibitors. I also got good info and resources for "one day" when my company has such human resource needs. Many of the exhibitors ran contests and drawings, to help collect business cards (leads) for them to call later. One of them was giving away a free nano iPod.

I've been wanting an mp3 player for a while. I do a lot of long driving in the car (an hour each way WITHOUT traffic problems). I've got a CD player with cassette tape adapter, that I feed into my car's tape player and listen to CD's while I drive. But I'm limited to the handful of songs I can fit on a single CD...and then there's the fun of trying to change CD's while driving 70+ mph down a 5-lane freeway. lol. An mp3 player would be ideal, so I could load a bunch of songs onto it from home, feed it through the cassette tape adapter, and listen to more songs (more safely) in the car on these long drives.

So when I dropped my business card in for the free drawing, I said a quick little prayer and set the intention to win the iPod. I wanted it, I hoped for it...but then I let it go. If God wanted me to have it, I'd get it. If not, well, that was okay too. I accepted either outcome, and detatched emotionally from the outcome.

This was partly a "test" or sorts. I have been learning about "intention setting" from some of the books I've been reading and people I've recently met. Apparently the universe has some kind of system in place, where we get to be co-creators of our life experiences. The process is pretty simple: 1. get clear on what you really want, 2. "feel" what it would be like to have it in your life, 3. let it go, detatch, be okay whether it happens or not. That's it. Then you wait. You *never* tell the universe/God "how" or "when." Just what you want, and why you want it. You let the how and when happen if and when it's gonna happen, in its own way. Period.

So I followed that process with winning this iPod. I've experimented with other things too. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. But when it does work...man, it happens in the most unexpected ways. lol.

Call me crazy or whatever you want, but I'm starting to see this actually work in real life. I've read it from different sources. I thought it might've been a bunch of hype or sounds-good stuff to sell a book. But I'm open minded enough to give it a try, to test it.

Maybe it's just coincidence, right? Just random luck?

Okay, maybe. Which is why I'm repeating the experiment at different times, with different things.

This iPod drawing was just another opportunity to test it. And whether the "intention setting" had anything to do with it or not, the fact of the matter is...I WON ONE!!! :)

I'm so happy. I feel like God loves me. :)

I *know* God loves me. I said I "feel" like God loves me. There's a difference.

So it was really cool to get this surprise gift from God--and that's exactly how I see it. I didn't have to earn it. I didn't fight for it, compete for it, or even go out to the store and point at it. lol. I was just going with the flow--and it happened naturally. Katey invited me to a conference that I enjoyed. While there, I happened across an exhibitor raffling it off. The ONLY effort on my part was saying, "Okay, sure," and dropping in my business card. I haven't even gotten any sales calls! lol. I asked God for it, and let it go...left it up to the Creator of the universe to decide if this was how He/She/It wanted to fulfill my music-listening needs while driving in and out of LA. :)

(btw--I recognize that "God" is the complete perfection of both masculine and feminine energy...being both and neither at the same time...hence the "He/She/It" part. ;) )

Anyway, just wanted to share my little blessing. I'm listening to it right now. So cool. It holds about 2GB of songs. It retails around $100, I believe. Certainly not top of the line, but sufficient for my needs, for sure. And I can't complain about the price! :)

God bless you, too.

Peace, my brothers and sisters.

:-D

Love Always,
-David

Current Mood: excited

Just imagine, one day...

It's the end of my life.
I'm passing on to the other side.
And I'm thinking to myself, "Boy, I'm sure glad I paid all my bills!"

---

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Current Mood: happy

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Well, here's a quick update on what's happened since my last post:

1. I decided to trust God--unconditionally, for everything--on a "trial" basis. I wasn't ready to go full commitment on Him, so I'm doing it one day at a time. :) Right now, I don't have the full, deep, real unconditional trust that I eventually hope to have ... but I am trusting God more and better than I was before. And so far, things seem to be working out.

2. Enough financial aid money came in to cover me for a while.

3. As of just last night, I found a new place to live. It's pretty close to my sister (which is cool, it'll be nice to get to hang out with her more often). It's cheaper (about $200 less per month). In a good area. And my new roommate is extremely cool and flexible. And friendly. And the complete opposite of my current roommate. By all appearances, I'm moving into a much better environment in all respects. Except one. There's no pool/spa at this new place. Oh well. lol. Guess I'll have to go over to Katey's more often. ;)

4. I got sick. Actually had a fever today. I blame Katey. She got sick first. But...all those kisses...hmm, I say they were worth it! :)

5. Emotionally-speaking, however, I'm starting to heal and open up more. I'm actually starting to rediscover some big dreams I once had years ago, but lost after everything I went through with my family.

6. My website, Astral Zone 4, is growing too. Last month I made about $2! Woohoo! This month, I'm projected to get somewhere around $4--that's double (in case your algebra skills are weak)! :-p Of course, I don't see any of it until my balance reaches $50, which at this rate, should only take about a year. Then I only keep a percentage of it--the rest is divided up among all my artists and writers currently contributing to the site. The joys of being a small business owner! Woohoo! But you know what? I have fun doing it. And it has the potential to grow even more.

Besides, that's not counting the real-life experience I'm getting too. This is better than any "internship" would ever be. This is real world, real life, management experience, marketing experience, business ownership experience, etc, etc... And I'm making a profit! An itty bitty teeny weeny profit, but a profit nonetheless! Go me! :-p

lol.

So now you know...Mike's Super Short Show!

Oh wait, nevermind. lol. I mean, th- th- that's all folks!

Er, um...yeah. My head's congested today. I'm sick, remember? Don't blame me for the bad humor. lol.

Peace out,
David

Current Mood: tired

I am only human.

And perhaps, I am too weak.

This is my story...

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But I'm still scared. Because I am only human.

"Each time he said, 'My gracious favor is all you need. My power works best in your weakness.' So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may work through me."
2 Corinthians 12:9 (NLT)


Sincerely,
David Michaels
September 5, 2005

Current Mood: anxious

A little over 6 months ago (on December 7th, to be exact), I wrote about what I'd do and how I'd live my life, if I knew I only had 6 months to live...

Fortunately, I'm still alive and well. But I'm gonna take this time to reflect back and look at the things I said I'd do...and see how I did, over this last six months...

( Read more... )

Thanks!

Namaste,
David

Current Mood: reflective

I made it safely to southern California. The tire has a slow leak, but only needs new air every few days. It lasted me the rest of my trip.

Today I started my new job, as a mortgage broker. My boss is really cool and the job isn't all that bad. I gotta talk to strangers on the phone, ask a lot of personal financial questions, and stuff like that. But hey--if they want a loan, that's what they need to give me! lol. It's actually not that bad, if you're not afraid to talk with people in a casual way over the phone. And best part is, as long as I get done what I need to do, I can pretty much set my own schedule. Take off a day when I need to. Come in early or later. Whatever. :) It's hard work and commission-only. That means no guaranteed paycheck. So I only get paid when I do the work. But that's what I like. 'Cause if I work harder and more, I can make a lot more too.

It's a totally new field for me, so I've got a learning curve to go through. But every new job is like that. And the perks definitely outweigh any awkwardness as I learn this new trade.

My apartment is beautiful, I have my own room, my own bathroom, AND I get to park inside a garage for the first time in my life. My roommate is pretty cool and it's in a good area of town. I'm pretty close to major freeways, too...as well as plenty of shopping centers, restaurants, etc.

It's work and it's part of growth--which is why I came out here, to continue growing--but it's worth it. I'm always encouraging myself to grow and expand beyond what I am or used to be. We're the authors of our own lives. Why not make it a good story?

I'm doing a lot of new things, opening my mind and experiences to new possibilities, and ever pushing myself forward. I don't want to live in fear. I don't want to live in lack, either. So I'm doing what others won't; I'm not settling for less just because it's easier, more comfortable, or more convenient. I believe the great things in life are worth waiting and working for. I don't want to end up a broken man with broken dreams. Even if I never fulfill my dreams...at least I'll have the satisfaction of knowing I gave it my damnest effort.

Now...in all those growth and self-expansion...I wonder how far and how much. And what areas of life. Sure, I'm growing spiritually, financially, socially... but what about sexually? Do I have the courage to face my irrational fears and overcome the negative conditioning I received all my life? Am I willing ...? i.e., will I ever get laid? LOL

Someday, I'm sure. With someone beautiful and special, I desire.

But am I just dreaming hopelessly of a fantasy relationship that will never come to be? Or is there someone out there really, truly worth waiting for?

I have not the answers.

-David

Current Mood: excited

11:08 PM Central Time
Vega, Texas

I'm about half way through my trip across the country. Half way. I've still got about 1200 miles to go. I just went through Amarillo, Texas, which is in the panhandle of this very, very large state. I'm about 60 minutes from the next town over, which is in New Mexico.

This road trip has been quite an adventure so far. I'm hoping it will be less exciting from now on. lol.

I made great time getting out of Florida. Hit some heavy rain showers, but that was about it. Even though I left later on Wednesday than I planned, I still was ahead of schedule by the time I hit Pensacola. So I kept going. And didn't want to stop anywhere in Mississippi, so I ended up pushing myself all the way to Baton Rouge, LA. Around 1:30 in the morning (2:30 AM EST), I found the "cheapest" hotel around. After taxes, about $62. And it was a Super 8 Motel. Not exactly a Hyatt or Marriot. And the room was hot and stuffy when I got in, too. I crashed on my bed, but was so wound up from the drive (and forcing myself to stay awake), I had trouble sleeping. Got maybe 4 hours in, all totaled.

A group of internet friends (fans of the "What the Bleep Do We Know?" movie) had a regularly scheduled meet-up that Thursday night...in Dallas, TX. I figured if I made good time, I'd join them. If not, find a hotel and get to bed early.

I made perfect timing. And met up with the group just as the others were getting there. I had an AWESOME time hanging out with them. We went to Chillis afterwards, and ended up all gathered, talking in the parking lot until around 1 AM or so.

On top of that, one of the ladies (she's retired) offered to have my crash at her place. I was told she'd be devastated if I said no, so I politely thanked her and agreed. Her house was BEAUTIFUL. Wow. So many ideas for when I get my own dream house. No way to describe it. It was a relatively small house--but so very well done. She even had speakers playing peaceful nature music throughout the house, all night long. (I, of course, could adjust the volume in my room.) She had a beautiful "fairy garden" outside, too, which I have to admit was a VERY peaceful place to sit. She even fed me breakfast and I enjoyed a good conversation with her for a few hours this morning.

Then it was on the road again... I took I-35 north to Oklahoma City, so I could catch the I-40 westbound. That way I avoid as much of Texas as possible. (Driving through Dallas was a stressful adventure all its own!) Also, it's more scenic through New Mexico and Arizona along I-40.

But not 30 miles into Oklahoma and I get pulled over for speeding! Argh! Normally I do 5-10 mph over the limit...like everybody else. But at that moment, I happened to be going 15 over. It was the middle of nowhere. Straight, wide-open roads. No traffic. Etc. Oh well. Apparently Oklahoma doesn't have many ways to generate revenue, so traffic fines are a big industry. lol. Guess how much I owe? About $190! *sigh* Oh well. It's my fault. I shouldn't have been speeding. I drove slower the rest of the day. Got pissed off when others whizzed by at 90 mph. Why me? lol.

AND THEN traffic came to a screeching stop! For an hour.

The reason? A few miles up ahead, the road was cut down to one lane. Construction, apparently. And that was enough to back up the interstate for miles, where no one moved. Stop. Creep forward an inch. Stop again. Wait a minute. And repeat!

Finally out of Oklahoma, I stop for some gas in Texas. And I notice something with my car.

The back left tire is unusually low.

Great. Just great. Perfect!

You see, I have a "spare" tire...in my trunk...buried under all my clothes and boxes. But it's *just* the tire. Not the rim. Thank you Wal-Mart, for changing my tires.

Fortunately, the tire didn't look totally flat. I could tell there was some wearing on the sides; I don't know how long it's been this low. But I put some air in the tire. And watched it. It seemed to hold. Okay, okay. Maybe it's just a slow leak.

I waited another minute, checked the integrity of the tire (last thing I need is a blow-out in the middle of the friggin' desert!), and decided to keep going. For 20 miles. Stopped at a gas station and checked the tire again. Still looks good. It's probably just a slow leak. May need to put air in it every so often, but it should be okay to keep going.

I drove another 40 miles. Stopped at a Comfort Inn. Tire still looks the same. I'm checked into my room now, which (very cool) has wireless internet included. :) Hence this mid-adventure report.

There was also a really big storm on the horizon. With lots of lightning. And wide, wide, very wide flat plains all around. I ain't taking no chances. Good night, please. :)

Tomorrow morning I'll take a look at the tire again. There's a gas station across the street with an air pump if needed. Hopefully this tire won't be a problem. But if it's gonna be, it needs to do it tonight. While I'm still in town. Well, I guess this is a town. So far all I've seen in this hotel, the gas station, and a restaurant.

And I'm already really, really tired of driving. I'm not doing this again for a long, long time. And not without a better, more reliable car.

When I'm not in a dead zone, I can be reached on my cell. 813-451-9680. That number will change in a few days to a week, once I get settled in my new place in California. I anticipate that it'll be another two full days, possibly part of a third day, before I get to Riverside, CA.

I hope I make it. I have to make it.

lol. All part of the life adventure, huh? :)

After this trip, I think I'm good on adventures for a while... hehehe.

Wish me luck! See ya later,
David

Current Mood: exhausted

...this time, there's no turning back.

I just realized that I haven't updated my livejournal in a while...and some of you may not have heard that I'm moving, to California, again.

Yeah, yeah, I know, I know. "Again?" lol.

This all happened pretty quickly. But here's the highlights: my friend is a mortgage broker out there, and has an open spot for me to come work with him. It's straight commission, hard work, but excellent pay! I got a 2 bedroom/2 bathroom apartment lined up pretty quickly and easily, too. I'm sharing it with someone. It's actually a townhouse. The pictures look BEAUTIFUL. I'll be able to park my car inside a garage, too. And have a washer and dryer inside. And a pool and spa right around the corner. And my own private bedroom and bathroom. A MAJOR upgrade from my current living situation.

Still, I really, really am gonna miss my current roommate. He's an awesome guy. And I'm going to miss all my friends out in Florida so much, too. This is actually an emotionally difficult move for me. I don't want to leave so many good people and things behind.

But I honestly believe it's the right time, right place, and (perhaps for the first time) for the right reasons, too.

Before I moved as a way to change things up, escape from painful memories, or try to get a fresh start in life. That works for a while, but the problem is...my problems were inside ME, not the geographic location. So no matter where I went, my problems came with me.

But I'm so happy to report that I've finally found the healing that I need. I'm still growing, and still cleaning up a few old emotional wounds. But for the vast overall majority, I'm doing fantastic! And I found a peace within myself, to where it didn't matter where I was or what I was doing. I was okay with myself. I like Florida. It's okay. My dreams aren't here. My heart asks for California. But if I had to stay in Florida, I'd be okay with it. I don't "have" to move to California this time. I want to, and the opportunity came up so that I could.

So I am.

It's scary...because this is a "no turning back" situation. I'm gonna have to work somewhere, somehow, no matter what state I'm in. And yeah, "California's more expensive," but everything's relative, and the pay's higher out there too. I'll be moving back to Riverside (really close to where I first lived, actually) and rent there is pretty comparable to Tampa anyway.

I can't keep going to school just to live off financial aid. I've taken all the classes that interest me at this point. It's time I moved on with my life. It's really easy, convenient, and comfortable to stay in Florida. It's definitely the easier path.

... but I don't grow much that way.

So here I go. Scared, nervous, excited, anxious, looking forward to it, hopeful, optimistic, sad, happy...a whole bundle of emotions! lol. Wish me luck. And btw, as a mortgage broker, I'll be able to do loans in all but two states. So even though I'm physically in California, I'll still be able to do your Florida loans. And pretty much anywhere else you may decide to buy a home. So keep me in mind, k? I'll hook you up with a good deal. :) Same goes for any friends you refer to me, too. It's all good. lol.

Anyway, I'll be hitting the road around June 24th, give or take a day. I start the next chapter in my life by July 1st.

Wish me luck.

And best of luck to all of you! :)

-David

Current Mood: mixed

My roommate's best friend is getting married tomorrow (Saturday). So last night, we had a bachelor party.

Normally the groom would want to go to a strip club or something, but I'm glad we ended up doing something else. We went to a club in Ybor City, called the "Amplitheater." I've never been to a club before. We also had a VIP section reserved for us, with expensive alcohol included (not for free, of course). I was told there'd be lots of hot girls hanging out with us. (Hey, it was a bachelor party, right?) This whole scene is pretty new for me. For those of you who know me, I'm not much of a drinker or clubber. I don't normally do big loud parties, make out with total stranger girls, or anything like that. But I'm growing, willing to expand myself, and explore into new territory. Last night was such an opportunity. I set my primary object to just have fun. But I also wanted to try to open up more, practice flirting with girls, etc.

Here's a copy of an IM conversation I just had with one of my friends. It'll let you know how my night went. :)

--Begin--
David: woohoo!
David: David had an adventure last night! :)
Alyson: OMG TELL ME WHAT HAPPENED!!!!
David: hehehe
Alyson: spill!!!!!!!!!
David: well, for the first time going to a club, I had fun
David: went out of the dance floor, just got into the music, had fun
David: :)
Alyson: SWEET...
Alyson: any action??
David: since it was a bachelor party, we had a VIP section reserved upstairs
David: and the manager at the club sent up a bunch of hot girls
Alyson: SWEET
David: most of which either didn't stay long, or didn't talk to us...just drank out expensive alcohol!
David: lol
David: but
Alyson: LOL
Alyson: buuuut??
David: there was this one hot blonde that I liked,
Alyson: and?
David: (I tried talking to several girls...a few actually keep talking or stayed around)
David: this one girl, Cathy she said her name was...
David: somehow the waitress convinced her to take a body shot off of me
Alyson: HOT
David: there's like these long narrow glasses...look like test tubes, lol. the waitress put two into my pants
Alyson: OMG!@
David: and the waitress and the girl both went down and grabbed it out of my pants with their mouths at the same time
David: then I had to take a body shot off of the blonde... the glass was stuck between her breasts
David: lol
Alyson: KICK ASS
David: people took pictures too...but I have no idea if I'll ever see them
Alyson: I want tos ee themn!!
David: I was the designated driver...and I really don't feel like drinking any more...but that one shot (tasted good) but started to mess with my brain for a bit
Alyson: LOL
Alyson: buzzin a bit, eh??
David: if I get a copy of the pics, I'll send them over.
Alyson: you have to!:)
David: eh, just feeling a little foggy about about 30 minutes or so
Alyson: but dang...you did body shots!!
David: while I was outside on the balcony getting some fresh air,
David: this other really hot girl...obviously drunk...came out too
Alyson: and??
David: her and her roommate were talking. "It's my 21st birthday" she kept saying
David: lol
Alyson: lol!
David: I was doing some small talk
Alyson: but no action??
David: and she asked me to come closer, because she couldn't see me
David: lol
Alyson: LOL
David: I was thinking about trying to see if I could come up with an excuse to kiss her
David: but she was smoking!
Alyson: oh gross
David: yeah
David: but good thing though,
David: because her boyfriend came out a minute or two later
Alyson: OH NO!! haha!!!!!
David: saw me standing close to her and said, "Dude, that's my girlfriend. Keep 5 feet away from her, please, dude!"
David: lol
Alyson: .wow!!!
David: I was like, "It's cool man. I'm not messing around." and all three of us (the girl, her roommate, and I) explained that she asked me to come that close.
Alyson: possessive, eh??
David: still, I slowly backed off a bit and let them be. lol
Alyson: yeah no shit!
Alyson: shady situation!
David: danced some more
Alyson: fun:)
David: saw a guy do a dance/performance with fire
David: it was pretty cool
Alyson: wicked!!
David: then when everybody was dancing in the center again, they blasted nitrogen on all of us. it was cold (felt good) and literally whited-out everything. couldn't see a thing
David: lots of fun
David: and towards the end, back upstairs in VIP,
David: I ran into the blonde girl again
David: she was much more intoxicated now
David: I sat down next to her, put my arm around her...
Alyson: smoothe!
David: trying to be cool...figure out this whole flirting thing
Alyson: lol!
Alyson: you're so cute!
David: we talked a bit
Alyson: and?
David: she's from Tallahassee (about 4.5 hours from here), goes to school there. hospitality major. could've graduated by now, but was afraid of the real world, so held off one class for another semester. she'll be graduating in December. but for the summer, she's staying in Orlando, and just visiting Tampa this weekend
David: she's also on the Dean's list, which she said meant she had a 3.5 GPA minimum.
David: (hot and smart...I sure know how to pick 'em, huh?) ;)
David: then my roommate helped me out. he had a camera phone and somehow convinced her to kiss me on the cheek so he could take a picture
David: got her to do it twice
David: then it was my turn to kiss her on her cheek
David: which I did, had a little fun (slipped a little tongue under the kiss...just enough to feel) lol
David: gave her my business card too, asking her to e-mail me the pictures she'd taken of us on her digital camera.
David: I have no idea if she'll remember who the hell I am, though. lol.
Alyson: sweet!...that's pretty hot!
David: thanks :)
David: and BIG, BIG steps for me
Alyson: I know! I"m SOOO proud!!
David: some of the other guys were taking body shots off of girls stomaches and eating whip cream off of them, too
Alyson: yummy
Alyson: sounds fun and dirty@
Alyson: what about the groom??
David: they got a little crazy with it, too. funny stuff. but I'm quite satisfied with the adventuring I did on my own
David: lol
David: we left the groom completely unconscious at a friend's house. we could barely get him to walk.
David: so he apparently had a good time too
Alyson: OH NO!!!!
Alyson: I am SO glad Mike [Alyson's husband] didn't do that!
David: we stopped at the casino after the club closed, too
Alyson: oh my :)
David: I lost my $25 (my spending limit)
Alyson: sucks
David: but, one of the guys just whipped out a $100 bill when we got there... just gave it to us each
David: I asked what it was for, he just shrugged and gave it to me.
David: cool
David: (I said thanks, obviously)
David: so even though I lost $25, I still kept the $100
David: oh, and at the VIP at the club...with all the body shots and stuff, suddenly the waitress turns to me and says "15." I'm like, "huh?" "$15," she said.
Alyson: wow...$15 for that...wow...
David: I know my roommate had to spend $300 for the VIP area, and drinks were supposed to be applied towards that tab. but apparently, as I found out, the waitress is a separate thing. fortunately I had a $20 bill on me. I asked for change, she refused to give it to me, said she had to run to the bathroom... I wanted my $5 change. I'd tip her. but finally I just gave up and realized it wasn't worth fighting over. so she took my whole $20.
Alyson: wow...what a bitch!
Alyson: I would NEVER do that.
Alyson: what spendy night!
David: so for $20, I got to drink a shot myself (from the blonde's cleavage), and had the two girls take the body shots off of me... (the waitress even drank one of the shots that I ended up paying for!)
David: anyway
David: $20 cash at the club, $25 at the casino...but kept the $100 bill...so I still came out ahead, $55 profit for the night ;) :-p
Alyson: LOL
David: oh,
Alyson: very business minded, aren't you?? haha...I still can't believe that...
David: and I got to drive this giant truck. 10 cylinder. holds like 8 people or something. it was like a bus! lol
Alyson: on FUN!
Alyson: oh*
David: it belonged to one of the guys, but I was the DD, so I ended up driving it. that was fun, too. I got the hang of driving the larger vehicle pretty quickly though, partly thanks to my truck driver training
Alyson: lol! yeah....
David: :-D
David: actually, one reason he felt safe letting me driving it was because I held a truck driver's license. he worked for the highway safety department or something like that, too. so he knew I had to have a good driving record to get a CDL
David: but normally he doesn't let other people drive his big truck
David: that we all called a bus. lol
David: :-p
Alyson: well, and I"im sure he wanted to get wasted! haha...sounds like you ahd a blast!
David: yup
David: we got home around 6:15am
David: :)
Alyson: DANG
Alyson: that's when my alarm went off...
Alyson: well...HERE anyway
David: my roommate and another guy (who crashed her for the night) are still sleeping,
David: probably gonna wake up with a major hang over, too. because neither one of them drank much water last night
David: lol
Alyson: wow
Alyson: oh yeah, seriously
David: but I had fun, which was my primary objective for the night
David: :)
Alyson: excellent:-D
David: and I expanded myself, opened up, tried exploring some new territory... I think I did well
David: :)
David: so, mission accomplished :-p
David: heheh
Alyson: I wasn't even there, and I think you did well!
David: I was hoping to kiss a girl on the lips. the blonde seemed like a good kisser, based on how she kissed my cheek
Alyson: dang
David: but I don't think even the "experienced" guys kissed any girls on the lips
David: then again, they all had serious girlfriends too
David: lol
David: oh, oh
David: and get this
Alyson: yeah...which would be bad
Alyson: what?
David: at the end, sitting with the blonde...
David: I asked if she had a boyfriend. I didn't want a repeat of earlier that night with Mr. Possessive
David: she said no.
David: I was like, "okay, just making sure nobody's gonna come up and punch me." lol
David: she lightly hit me on the side of my face, with a mock punch
David: then she asked if I had a girlfriend
David: "nope, no girlfriend."
David: "why not?" she asked, seeming a little surprised. (so flattering!) :)
Alyson: :-D
David: I could've said a whole variety of things: haven't met the right person, just laying low...I'm moving to California...whatever!
David: but I didn't
David: I was smoooooth.
David: I came up with this on the fly!
Alyson: I'm so proud of you...
David: I said, "good timing, I guess."
David: she laughed.
Alyson: WOW!
David: hehehe
David: impressed with me? :-D
David: I'm proud of that one. heheh LOL
Alyson: I am very impressed:-D
David: so that was my night
David: and being sober the whole time...I get to remember everything! :)
Alyson: :-D:-D:-D I'm so proud of you, I know I said that...but it's awesome
David: thank you :)
David: *hugs*
David: I'm proud of me too
David: slowly trying to come out of my shell, get past YEARS of negative conditioing, open up, etc...
David: but my #1 goal was to have fun, which I did.
--End--


So there you have it. :) Life's an adventure! :-D

-David

Current Mood: excited

I am so powerless. I wish I could help. But I don't know how...

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David Michaels
June 8, 2005

It's been a while since I updated my livejournal, so here's a few things going on in my life, just in case anyone was interested. :)

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Your friend,
David

Current Mood: reflective

This may or may not make a whole lot of sense or purpose for some people, especially since it's out of context. But for those of you who are looking, or need to be reminded, here's some interesting insightful notes someone recently shared with me. It's about seeking happiness, success, freedom, and personal fulfillment. Lately I've been meeting a lot of people who start a business, or get into a high-paying (but highly-disliked) career, or pursue some other outside source to fulfill their needs and desires... But recently it was suggested to me that people look at what's already within themselves--their interests, desires, passions, skills, talents, abilities, gifts, etc--and use those to fulfill their personal needs, and also, apply them in such a way that it helps other people fulfill their personal needs as well.

- seeking things outside yourself to fulfill needs inside yourself almost always leads to a self-trap.
don't be one of them.

Like I've met some people who got into a business and worked really hard for a long time, only to finally strike it rich. The only problem is, it's not them. Their heart's not in it. Originally, they started the business to make money to follow their real dreams and passions...but now that they are rich, they can't stop. They have to keep it going. They're trapped.

- using what's within to fulfill the needs within leads to self-stability.
that's being mediocre, average.

That's like an artist painting for him/herself, fulfilling their inner desire to be creative. That's good. They're using an internal talent to fulfill a personal need. But it only helps them. It's not helping anyone else.

- only by using and sharing what's within to help those without will you find true freedom and explosive success.

But if that artist painted and shared it with others, possibly touched or inspired other people with their artwork...then they're fulfilling their own needs (being creative) as well as the needs of other (inspiration, admiration of beauty, emotional connection, etc.) If that artist became hughly successful, they're still fulfilling their own needs, and the needs of others. They're not trapped--because they're doing what's within. They're remaining true to themselves, expressing their true selves, to fulfill themselves and others, with their talent or gift or skill or ability, etc.

So how do you find what that unique gift or special talent of yours is? How does one find what's "within" to fulfill their own needs as well as the needs of others?

The signs are obvious:
-> what turns you on?
-> what turns you off?
-> what gives you joy?
-> what burdens your heart?
-> where/how do you feel most alive/loved?
-> where/how do you feel most dead/unloved?

-- these are "guide posts" to help you on your journey. use them. they're there to help you find the way.

Money is rarely the answer. It's sometimes (often) the result.
The real "answer" is within every person. Unique to every person.

Everyone has needs, including you.
Fulfill those needs. Then help others do the same.

...sadly, there will always be some people who choose to stay trapped.
don't be one of them.
-> everybody was designed to be free. everybody.

So how do we do it?

1. First Step: Be Honest with yourself.
2. Do something about it.
3. Stick to what you know and love, without ceasing to grow and expand.
4. Share it with others.
5. What you put out always comes back to you, one way or another.
6. Allow others to help fulfill your needs too, just as you're helping them.
7. Time moves all things.
8. Continue to give as you receive.
9. Grow and expand and help more people. The more people you help, the more successful you'll be. (Remember, do what's "within" to help those "without.")
10. Love - yourself and others.
11. Don't give up. Don't be afraid to change if one way isn't working, though. Same goal, different route.
12. Enjoy the material and intangible benefits and riches this system will help you receive.

I did the most random and unexpected thing yesterday.

I wasn't planning on it. I wasn't looking for it. I've never done anything like it before...

There I was on Amazon.com, looking up customer reviews on a book I was reading. I was just curious what others thought of the same book. And for some reason, I clicked on the username of one of the customer reviews. It brought up the person's basic amazon.com page, including their wish list. Then it happened. An impulse. A sudden burst of inspiration. I don't know why, I don't know where it came from...but I wanted to buy this lady--a total stranger--a book from her wish list. It was pretty cheap. Came to like $10 after shipping. So I wasn't worried about that. And I thought how cool it would be, if some total stranger bought me something online. So I figured...what the hell!

lol.

I don't know who this lady is. She lives somewhere in Tennessee. I don't know how old she is, what she looks like, if she's married with kids or only a teenager in high school. I have no clue. But I know she wanted this book.

And you know what? It felt really good to buy it for her. She has no idea who I am, so she can't possibly return the favor. She owes me no thanks, no debt, nothing. I gave it just because I wanted to. Because I thought it would be fun to surprise someone with an unexpected gift. And you know what? It feels really great. I want to do it again for someone else.

I'm not bragging or anything like that. Please don't take me wrong. I was actually hesistant to mention this in my journal, because I don't want to seem like I did it for the wrong reasons. But I eventually decided to mention it, because maybe it might inspire someone else to do the same.

I'm not rich, I'm living off of financial aid, there's many luxuries in life I can't afford. But $10 is no big deal. I'm never gonna miss it. I'll still be able to pay rent and buy my groceries. So no big deal.

I hope the person appreciates the gift. I hope she enjoys the book. I hope she feels special, and loved, and good. I hope that maybe she'll be inspired to give an act of random kindness to a stranger she comes across. I hope...but even if not, that's okay. I'm not expecting anything in return; the gift came with no requirements or expectations. So whether she enjoys it or not, whether it inspires her or not...that's fine. I've already gotten my gift. It really, really does feel good to do something like that.

I can't wait to do something like that again. :)

It's almost addicting. lol. But I am on a budget.

Anyway, I've talked enough. Hope you all have a great day.

Peace and God's blessings,
David

Current Mood: happy

Some of my innermost thoughts. A rare treat, a clip from my private personal journal...

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Current Mood: contemplative

Donatello, the smaller, rock-eating, food-missing turtle...

...speaks!

It happened tonight, shortly after I shut off their heat and UV lamps. Suddenly I heard this faint squeeking noise. It was coming from my turtle aquarium. I watched and listened closely. Both Donatello and Leonardo were swimming around, having a playful time. But whenever Donatello surfaced for air, he peeked his head up through the water, held it there, and made this cute chirping/squeeking noise. Like he was calling for other turtles or something.

Leo, thus far, seems to be the big, strong, silent type. lol.
Don, on the other hand, is a bit smaller and not quite as bright. (He's the one that ate a rock and used to take several attempts before he could snap at his food.) But now he speaks. It's so cute.

These guys are growing pretty quick, too. Leo's about double the size of when I got him. Donny's a little bigger, too.

I didn't know turtles made noises!

:-p

Current Mood: excited