If you remember, I wrote about these upstairs neighbors moving in who let their kids run all over the place.  It’s to the point that my kids complain about how loud those neighbors are. It’s always the same thing.  I write her an email, and she acts like her kids haven’t been making any noise, and then the noise stops for a few months.  All of a sudden, it happens once again. The last time I CC:ed the owner and told them that I was going to call the police and the condo association from now on.  The noise stopped for a few months, and here we are again.

For over three hours, I’ve been hearing running and stomping where the ceiling shakes. After two hours, I call the police.  They said that if they can hear it from the outside, then they can knock on the door and talk to them.  Lo and behold, here comes the police, and guess what! You can hear the kids screaming and jumping all over the place. I am SO glad that the police heard them because it validates that I am not crazy.

When they open the door, I hear them telling the police that I am ALWAYS complaining and that they were just watching television.  I couldn’t believe that these people would straight up lie like that.  The worst part is that these are the grandparents (over 70 years old) who blatantly just fibbed.  My first thought is what are you teaching your grandchildren who know they were running around, but hear you telling the police something different. I’m so glad that the police had my back. They informed them that they could hear them all the way downstairs, so they are too loud.  Instead of admitting that they were wrong, they are going to continue saying that I am the issue and that they were not doing anything. My face was beet red, and I was ready to storm upstairs and call them liars to their faces.  However, I calmed down and listened to the police tell them that they were too loud and to keep it down.

According to the police, if they continue in less than 24 hours, they will get a courts summon.  Miraculously, the noise has subsided.  Now, if they were just watching television and not causing any turmoil, then why is it that all of a sudden the pounding has stopped? Hmmmm…3D televisions are coming out, but I don’t think we have any virtual ones that the characters actually step out of the TVs and act it out right in front of you.

It baffles me that it’s a beautiful day outside, but instead of taking the kids to the park, they let them run inside the apartment.  It’s like I told her in the last email. Our kids are similar ages, but I have my kids outdoors, so they exert their energy while having fun.  She should be doing the same.  If she isn’t, it isn’t my problem. I’m not standing for this anymore.  If they want to be inconsiderate pricks who don’t give a damn about my feelings, then right back at ya.

Self

Entering this new phase in my life, I have learned to stop procrastinating and relax even if it’s just for a minute. Since my sister has passed away, it’s been hard for me to do much of anything. My house was a mess, and I felt like every part of my life was in complete chaos. I really didn’t even have the urge to even care about my appearance.  I just felt lost and alone without the person who I loved more than anything in the world, other than the kids, gone from my life. A few weeks ago, I had this powerful dream with my sister in it.  After the dream, I realized that even though I am sad, I need to get up and start doing something to change my life for my children and my sake.  Also, I need to find a way to turn my sister’s tragic death into something good, and help others, so they don’t suffer the way my family and I are.

Health

I have lost the five pounds that I wanted to lose this month, and I have gotten faster on my bike. I’ve also gotten better at dealing with distance. Before the year is over, I want to do a century ride, so I have to at least get to where I can ride 60 miles without huffing and puffing. Another one of my goals was to get Isabelle to ride her two wheeler without falling off. I have succeeded! I’m pretty awful at drinking water though, but I am getting better at that too.  I tell myself to drink one glass of water an hour, and it seems to be helping.  I want to start drinking green tea and not be so dependent on coffee.  I think I can do it.

I started a biking and running vlog to share my personal experiences and tips with everyone.  I’m doing it for fun, and to talk to other cyclists and runners who are passionate about biking and running like I am. =)

Family

I just want to be there for my family. I also want the kids to have an awesome summer, and it’s something that will happen because a childhood is something precious that every child should look back and think of fondly when they are no longer children.

Money

I already did my budget for my freelancing days. I do have to do some shifting around, and I plan on doing that next week. Also, I need to notarize my revised trust. It had my sister as the Executor and children’s guardian, but now that she is no longer here, I made changes so it’s my parents. If something were to happen to me, I wouldn’t want them with their father. He is still very immature and his priorities are completely screwed up (For ex: can’t go to Fairfax to pick up his kids, but will go to a baseball game in DC that same day). I have to ensure that my children will be ok if something were to happen to me.

Career

I saved it for last because it’s the most extensive. My last day is on Friday. Hurray! I am in the process of finishing to set up everything up for my freelance writing business. I have already had some people contact me about possibly doing some work for them, and I feel so lucky. I have updated my business plan and marketing plan, so all I have to do is implement what I have envisioned and work hard. I might have to buy a new PC laptop now that I am going to be giving my work one back to my company on Friday. I already have a Macbook, but I think it’s good practice to have both O/S systems. I know that I will be successful if I am diligent and aggressive.

At the same time, I am starting a non-profit organization in honor of my sister. It is to bring awareness about the dangers of drinking excessively. People tend to think of only drunk driving when they think about the dangers of drinking alcohol, but more and more people are dying due to alcohol intoxication.  Therefore, I have already sent the paperwork to become a non-profit organization that will help educate people on alcohol-related deaths.  I am in the process of finishing up the web site and prepping the social networking sites. It should be up and running by the beginning of the next week.

Conclusion

The death of a loved one is very hard, but you have to do the best to become a better person and learn from it. I know that my sister is with me and is like my guardian angel. With her, I can do anything that I put my mind and heart into.

I love this song “Gravity” from Wolf’s Rain. Explains perfectly how I feel:

Photo Credit: pick a dream, originally uploaded by Digi Butterfly.

There are some people in this world who are just out to use others.  It has never made sense to me, and I always wonder what goes in that person’s head that makes him/her be such a selfish, delusional individual. Every time you need me to help you, I do.  Even if you are not my favorite person, I still help you.  Maybe it’s cause of empathy, or cause I think of the people who will benefit from it.  However, you always repay me by being yourself (not a good thing). Not once have you ever intended to help me with anything in life. 

Since the beginning, you have been MIA.  When I found out I was pregnant, you vanished.  When I was trying to get my college degree while pregnant with Cebastian and Isabelle, you didn’t help, even though we lived in the same household.  I have luckily had a supportive family who were always there to help me because without them, I would never have the successes that I’ve been lucky enough to have.

I never hear from you unless you want something.  This time I am not going to be “Ms. Nice Shevonne Who Always Gets Stabbed in the Back.” You should ask someone you respect to help you with your resume.  You should ask someone who cares to help you finally get your college degree.  What’s funny is that I got my degree while taking care of two babies.  I barely slept, but I kept trekking because I knew that it would provide a better future for them.  You only have your kids two days out of the month.  Yes, TWO.  However, you were never able to get your degree.  Oh yeah, I forgot, I applied and wrote your essay for you to get into college.  I also did your programming homework because you couldn’t grasp it. I guess it’s always been the same story with us.

I am not allowing people to use me anymore.  It’s time that I stand up for myself.  You are the first person who I am saying “NO” to. So, no, I won’t be your Huckleberry.

Photo Credit: DocHoliday, originally uploaded by Mick Muise.

I am the shyest person you will ever meet. If I think a guy is cute, and I’m interested, I can’t even look him in the eyes. I divert my attention when I notice him looking back, and I can’t help but turn a crimson red. I sometimes wish that I was like some of my friends who can look the guy in the eyes and flash a flirty smile. Now, I am here having a huge crush on my contractor, and I am freaking out because I know that he won’t ask me out because I’m his client. It is up to me to do the asking.

Being the huge nerd that I am, the first thing I did was run a google search on “How to ask a guy out” and “What do guys think of women who do the asking.” It seems like men don’t usually frown upon it nowadays, so there is nothing hindering me from doing it. I asked a couple of friends, and they said, “Girl, go for it.” The problem is that being that I am immensely shy, can I really do it? I am trying to smile at him more and look him in the eyes. However, I think the giggling is getting a bit much, but I can’t help myself.

One thing that is true is that the worst he can say is no. It will suck to hear that, but I’m not going to combust into flames, so does it really matter? No, it doesn’t. Therefore, I am going to do it. For the first time in my life, I am going to ask a guy out. I am going to do one thing though….wait til he finishes the job.

Photo Credit: Somewhere over the Rainbow, originally uploaded by neloqua.