White Rock Lake

I have been craving the ocean and water!  I hate living in Dallas, in the middle of nothing.  I want to be by the sea.  I have been feeling this angst lately.  Today, after running all of my errands I went to White Rock Lake.  I left my phone in the car, pulled out a blanket, my pastels and sketch pad, and the camera I borrowed from Olga.  I found a beautiful spot, somewhat off the beaten track.  I just spent the afternoon listening to the water,  watching the bikers and joggers, listening to the birds and just enjoying the earth. 

 

White Rock lake has some very beautiful trees, that contort and twist in a variety of directions.  The day become overcast, and the sun bounced playfully off of the clouds.

I stayed and enjoyed watching the sun go down, the fireflies came out and danced on the grass.  I tried to capture the fireflies on film, but all I got was grass!

The moon came out, and I watched a family of ducks head home for the evening.  The moon was beautiful, but it was shrouded with clouds. 

 I realized, even though I do not live by the ocean, I can still feel the same peace and joy!

Taken From Izzybella

1. What is your occupation? Teacher, Artist

2. What color are your socks right now? I am not wearing socks.  I Hate wearing socks, unless I absolutely have to.  My BFF/Sister G always used to nag at me to wear socks.  Sorry G, i still do  not wear them. 

3. What are you listening to right now? I am listening to Desert Wind sing “Kali Ma”

http://payplay.fm/desertwind6

4. What was the last thing that you ate? Cheese and Bean Pupusas from my student from El Salvador. 

 5. Can you drive a stick shift? No….  I have always wanted to learn.  No one has had the courage to teach me…

6. If you were a crayon, what color would you be? Why purple, of course!

7. Last person you spoke to on the phone? My friend Danica

 
8. Do you like the person who sent this to you? I stole it from izzybellas’s blog, and yes, I do.

 
9. Favorite drink? Regular Coke

10. What is your favorite sport to watch? yuck, sports on television, boring, boring, boring.  If I had to choose, it would be American Football.

 
11. Have you ever dyed your hair? Yes, many times

12. Pets? My dog Cosmo, and my fish: Fishy Wishy

13. Favorite food? Any and every type of food from Latin America/South America.

14. Last movie you watched? Lady in the Water…  very interesting movie.

15. Favorite Day of the year? the days I get to see my sister, her beautiful daughter, and her prince charming husband.  They live in Virginia, so that is not often. 

16. What do you do to vent anger? Break glass…  hehehehe  …  remember Jehara?????  Usually, I paint, draw, use pastels, clay, something artistic to express my emotions. 

17. What was your favorite toy as a child? My Sasha Dolls and My Merlin.

 
18. What is your favorite, fall or spring? Fall

19. Hugs or kisses? Hugs

20. What kind of pie? I am a southerner…  Pecan Pie!!!  yummy yummy yummy

21. Do you want your friends to email you back? I’m not going to email it, I’ll post it on my blog.
22. Who is most likely to respond? I don’t know
23. Who is least likely to respond? No clue

 
24. Living arrangements? Looking for a new place!

25. When was the last time you cried? Today, while thinking about how much I NEED TO SEE MY SISTER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

26. What is on the floor of your closet?hehehe  everything….

 
27. Who is the friend you have had the longest that you are sending/tagging this to? I’m going to tag anyone who wants to play on my blog.
28. The friend you have known the shortest amount of time that you are sending/tagging this to? See # 27

 
29. Favorite smell? Vanilla, Apples, Oranges, Lavender, cinnamon

30. What inspires you? Passion, Creativity, Compassion

31. What are you afraid of?  My nearest and dearest dying

32. Plain, cheese or spicy hamburgers? I am a vegetarian, no meat for me!

 

 
34. Favorite cat breed? Siberian - they are supposed to be okay for those with allergies, and they are beautiful!  I have always wanted a cat, but never had one.

33. Favorite car? The one that’s paid for.  Ditto Izzy

35. Number of keys on your key ring?5 plus the electric thingymagig for the door at the school.

 
36. How many years at your current job? It is brand spanking new.

37. Favorite day of the week? depends on the day

38. How many provinces have you lived in? I’ve never lived in a province-I’m a lame American…Ditto Izzy
39. How many countries have you been to? 7, and there are sooooo many more places I want to visit!

Busy, Busy, Busy

With my feet on the mend, and the Earth Day Art Show this past weekend, plus starting a new job, things have been very busy for me!  I was going to move to Fort Worth, but with my new job, I have now decided to stay in Dallas.  I am currently looking for a place that is closer to downtown, as that is almost where my new job is.  I am really excited about my new position.  I will be working for a non-profit organization.  They have a food bank, clothing center and learning center.  I will be teaching Civics and ESL, as well as monitoring the other teachers.  I am thrilled to be working with the organization.  I have never loved a job as much as I have loved teaching ESL.  I am also getting ready this week for a little art show at the Angelika.  It is put on over by Mockingbird Station by a store there called Counter Culture.  It will be from 12-4 on Saturday.  Please wish me luck!

My Goddess Oracle Reading

Okay, on Sunday, I did a Goddess Oracle reading.  It was very interesting.  For my past I got Blodewedd, representing betrayal.  For my present I got Sedna, representing the victim, and for my future I got Kuan Yin, one of my favorite goddesses, representing compassion.  I find these cards to be very helpful, not in an “oh what is my fortune?”  kind of way, but in using goddess as representation of  psychological archetypes.  I hate to admit it, but the cards were right on target.  I was very disappointed this weekend because I did not have my crystal healing session.  I had been looking forward to it for a long time, and I was very upset when it did not happen as planned.  I felt like I needed it.  I felt that it was important to me, and that I was being blown off.  I guess you can say that I felt what I thought was betrayal (hence the Blodewedd card).  I felt like my problems and issues were not important.  This triggered feelings from my childhood, where I was disregarded and viewed as insignificant (hence the Sedna card).  I was falling into the victim mode, where the world is against me, and that I am an insignificant and unimportant person to the people I care the most about. 

After nursing my initial wounds, I came to the realization that my issues are important (Hence the Kuan Yin Card).  I need to look at myself and my friends with compassion.  I need to step out of the Victim mode and and accept that I am lovable.  I have a hard time with people that are close to me.  I do not like to talk about my stuff, because I often feel my problems are stupid, or not important.  I need to stop being so hard on myself and my friends.  I need to give them the benefit of the doubt.  I need to open myself up and trust the people that I care about.  The only person I have ever truly trusted is my younger sister.  She really does have the ability to read my mind.  I expect my friends to have this same skill.  I need to express myself honestly and openly.  I will try harder at this, I promise!  I know my friends love and care about me, it is just very hard for me to accept.  The cards helped me to completely analyze my situation.  The Goddess Oracle Cards, are very useful for true introspection and Jungian self analysis.  If you are interested in the cards, here is the link:

http://www.goddessoracle.com/GOF-home.html

The artwork on the cards is amazing. 

Friday Fill-In

1. Ahhhh, it’s so nice to drink a warm cup of tea on a cold day!
2. One of my favorite things on my desk or bureau is my large amethyst cluster.
3. Japanese Cherry Blossom Tea is a wonderful blooming flower tea.  http://www.herbs-teas.com/
4. Curled up in my bed when it is cold, or, outside under a tree by a pond and on a blanket is my favorite place to sit and read.
5. Spiral Diner’s vegetarian barbecue sandwich and 8 layer burrito are delicious!http://www.spiraldiner.com/
6. I love to watch Magic in movies.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to getting some rest, tomorrow my plans include the momentum meeting and Sunday, I want to go to circle and see my friends!

Friday Fill In

Friday’s Feast

Appetizer

If you could be any current celebrity for one whole week, who would you want to be? 

I would want to be Audrey Hepburn.  Beauty, Elegance and Compassion all rolled into one person.

Soup

On a scale of 1-10 (with 10 being highest), how much do you enjoy talking on the phone?

I would say a 5.  I like talking face to face better.   I like seeing peoples auras and feeling their energy! 

Salad

Name a charitable organization to which you have donated (or would like to).

Nuestras Hijas de Regreso a Casa

Amnesty International

Main Course

What is a food you like so much you could eat it every single day for a month?

Vegetarian Tamales  - you can find a great recipe at:  http://www.razzledazzlerecipes.com/mexican-recipes/vegetarian-tamales.htm

Dessert

Have you or anyone in your family had the flu this year?

No, not yet, I am keeping my fingers crossed.

See more posts here: Friday’s Feast official home.

Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen Things about Chakras.  1. The Crown Chakra is at the top of the head, and the color for the Crown Chakra is Violet. 2. The Crown Chakra works with metabolism, central nervous system, head, cerebral cortex, upper spine, and hair. 3. The Third Eye Chakra is between the eyebrows, and the color associated with it is Indigo. 4.  The Third Eye Chakra deals with the endocrine and nervous system, autonomic nervous system, hypothalamus, eyes and the pituitary gland. 5.  The Throat Chakra is located in the throat area and is associated with the color blue.  6.  The Throat Chakra deals with the parathyroid, balance of Yin and Yang, ears, sinus, thyroid, and respiratory system. 7.  The Heart Chakra is located in the chest, and is associated with the color green. 8.  The Heart Chakra is the center of love for self and others.  It deals with the heart, lung, lymph system, immune system, allergy, blood pressure, and circulation. 9.  The Naval or Solar Plexus Chakra is located around the solar plexus, and is associated with the color yellow. 10.  The Naval Chakra is the bodies battery.  It deals with the digestive system, stomach, liver, pancreas, gall bladder, bile, and small intestines.  11.  The Sacral Chakra is located above the genital area.  It is associated with the color orange.  12.  The Sacral Chakra deals with life force issues, energy, abdomen, spleen, urinary tract, kidneys, ovaries, uterus, and blood sugar. 13.  The Root Chakra is located at the base of the spine and is associated with the color red.

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Early Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen Things about Health Insurance Companies 1. They only care about money 2. They do not want people to get better. 3. They over-rule your Doctors recommendations 4. They give crappy customer service 5. They live for fucking people’s lives up 6. They make money off of the sick and dying 7. They discriminate 8. They demoralize 9. They are unorganized 10. They bring shame onto this country. ( See the movie Sicko!!!! People in France, England, Canada and even Cuba were amazed at how bad our health care system is thanks to Health Insurance Company Greed.) 11. I HATE THEM!!!! 12. greed, Greed, GREED GREED GREED GREED GREED GREED GREED GREED $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ 13. They would rather people stay sick or die, then get the treatment they need.

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My Students

Yesterday, my students brought food for a party after class.  They all made foods that they love, foods from their original countries.  It was a wonderful feast!  We had a really good time.  They practiced their English, and I practiced my Spanish. 

My students are all very hard working, genuine people.  They have a real love of life, their families, and food.  I am lucky to have the opportunity to get to know and teach them.  I learn so much from them.  I enjoy learning the stories about their families, their jobs, how they came to the United States, and why they came to this country.  I have heard some amazing stories.  I have heard many stories of discrimination.  This makes me extremely sad.  Why can we not develop an immigration policy that is more equitable?  I understand that we have to protect our borders from terrorists.  My students are not criminals or terrorists.  They are people like you and me, with hopes and dreams.     

I Still Hate Insurance Companies and Drug Companies (Escpecially Eli Lilly)

I just thought I would give you all an update about my Humatrope.  Since receiving the letter from Aetna Denying my Humatrope, my doctor has submitted an exception request, and then an appeal.  The lack of customer service at Aetna is incomprehensible!  The lack of assistance that I am getting from Eli lilly is even more ridiculous!!!!! 

Eli Lilly has an organization created to assist the patients, The Humatrope Reimbursement Center (HRC).  I have to say they are wasting their money with this one!!!  I have been working with this group since last year, and it is like smashing your car into a brick wall while driving 100 miles an hour. 

I have called this place and called this place and called this place to no avail.  The person assigned to my case, is this chick named Vanessa.  The woman never returns my calls, and rarely answers her own phone.  When she does call me, she mixes my case up with others, asks questions she has asked before, and makes promises she never keeps, and then blames her mistakes on my doctor’s office.  

The Humatrope Reimbursement Center (HRC) is supposed to help patients with:

• Obtaining a description of the benefits provided through their insurance plans.
• Understanding their insurance coverage and what options are available.
• Coordinating and submitting claim forms and documentation required by their insurers.
• Appealing any denials of coverage from their insurers, whenever possible.
• Exploring other sources of coverage and reimbursement.
• Working with their doctors’ offices to make sure all necessary information is promptly supplied to each patient’s insurer.

I know this is a free service they are providing, so I hate bitching about it, but I am telling you they seem to be more of a hindrance then a help.  They wasted my doctors office time by having them fill out the same paperwork 5 times.  It was so bad that the drug rep and her boss had to go to my doctors office to finally complete the paperwork.  My doctors office kept blaming the HRC, and the HRC kept blaming my doctors office.  This process literally took months.  If the list above is what they are supposed to be doing, I can tell you that from my experience, they have not helped me with any of those issues.  I had to hound them to help me, I gave them information about my insurance company, I have had my doctors office fax, call and mail them information.  They open and close my case with no rhyme or reason, and Vanessa from the HRC told me that she could not help me with the exception or the appeal.  Once again, Elli Lilly states that the HRC is supposed to assist with this.  I could go on and on about the problems I am still having with this group!

Now, let me talk about Aetna.  My doctor’s office, the Humatrope Reimbursement Center, and I, have faxed, called and mailed information to Aetna.  We have sent test results, lab results, and the letter of Medical Necesity to them over a million times.  Every time I call Aetna to get a status update, they tell me they have not received any of this information!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Okay now, WHO IS LYING??????  Is it Aetna?  Is it my doctor’s office?  Is it the Humatrope Reimbursement Center?  Is it me?  If I am not already crazy, I think I shall be soon.  Why is this so complicated?  I have an illness, Adult Growth Hormone Deficiency.  My doctor tested me for it.  My doctor prescribed medication for it.  You would think it would not be so f*%@$g difficult to get the medicine I need to live a normal life!!!!!!!!  I am truly about to just give up.