Day 6 - NOT Easy

I took several days off because my husband was home for the holidays... MISTAKE! I had shown all the videos to my husband, he didn't know what I was doing, I had told him about it, but he said he didn't think I was really going to do it... HA!

So, today was the first day back since before Christmas and I am telling you THIS WAS HARD!!! But I did it, and I am proud of ME! I tried some DIFFERENT exercises today so that I don't get bored with the same games/exercises on the Wii. I'm telling you, if you have a Wii, and you've never done the Sports edition... you need to give it a try, it IS Amazing!

Here's my video entry for today from right afterward:

P.S. - I'm trying to decide if I should join Weight Watchers... I am really ready to get rid of this weight...

Peace & LOVE

Abundance, prosperity, standing one’s ground and protection of resources are just part of what Buffalo represents on an energy level. In Ted Andrews book Animal Speak he says in reference to Buffalo that “The Lord helps those who help themselves” and that the Lakota Sioux believed that right action combined with right prayer resulted in the manifestation of all that is wanted or needed. How many times has anyone heard that someone wants something, be it money, a new relationship, a new job, etc. and yet the person wants someone else to do it all for them! When Buffalo appears to us, it is at this time that we ourselves need to take action on our own behalf and then and only then can we provide a channel for the manifestation to flow through to us from the Universe.

A White Tennessee Christmas

From the upper deck of our home on Christmas Eve 2010I just read that since 1884 when records were beginning to be kept about the weather... here is more from the National Weather Service... kinda cool... pun intended:

Since the winter of 1884 and 1885, when snowfall records began in Nashville, snow has fallen 23 times on Christmas Day. Only 9 have been a measurable amount. A measurable amount is one tenth of an inch or more.

From a statistical standpoint, there is a 19 percent chance of a trace or more of snow on Christmas Day, and only a 7 percent chance of measurable snow.

The last time snow fell on Christmas was in 2002 when a trace occurred.

The last time measurable snow fell on Christmas was 1993 when 0.3 inches occurred. 0.3 inches also fell on Christmas in 1992 in downtown Nashville, but 1 to 2 inches fell in the Joelton and Ridgtop areas. 1992 and 1993 is the only time that two consecutive Christmases have had measurable snowfall.

The last white Christmas in Nashville was in 1969 when 2.7 inches of snow fell. A white Christmas is one or more inches of snowfall.

The warmest Christmas on record occurred in 1982, and the coldest was in 1983.

The wettest Christmas on record was in 1987 when 2.37 inches of rain fell.

Christmas 1984, at 1150PM, a tornado cut a million dollar damage path from the Whispering Hills section of Nashville to near Una.

Day 5

Starting a new exercise regime during the holiday season is probably one of the best ideas I've had in a long time... and I come up with a lot of unimplemented ideas all the time that are pretty good. [Smile]

Anyway, I slept until after noon today... cause I NEEDED it! Got up and didn't feel like exercising AT ALL, but I did it anyway - and, I exercised LONGER than any other day so far... hmmmmm, wonder why?

I'm learning more and more about myself and my body... this is good. I am starting to integrate MIND - BODY - SPIRIT again.

Also, I need to tell you (the imaginary you) that I started working the new Marianne Williamson book on CD called, "A Course in Weight Loss." I'll let you know more when I can... the first lesson really had me deep in thought over why I keep holding on to this weight... it is NOT about food, that is for sure...

Day 4

Hmmmmm... where do I begin... I stayed up WAY too late last night working in my office getting ready for a client to arrive late morning. Thank goodness the client called and gave me an extra hour, so I ate, and did step and ski jumping on my Wii. I had every intention of going back to the Wii later to finish my workout, but it didn't happen... :o(


I feel a little guilty... but there is nothing I can do at this point...

Had to get all my last minute Christmas presents ready to go so I could get them to the post office on time to make it around the country by Friday. DONE!

Day 3

I was feeling a little weak today, but wanted to keep working out. I know that sometimes you MUST rest the body, but since I am just getting started, this is not the time to rest. Besides, I am too afraid of falling of the workout wagon.

I used my Wii Sports today, and found the bicycling exercise... OMG is all I can say... I had to cycle/walk through 13 places in the exercise, and then find the finish arch... It took me quite a bit of time, and it TRULY worked me out more than I wanted initially... but when I was done with it, I felt so good, so proud of myself!

Here is my daily video check in:

Day 2

O.K.! Today I added a new 10 minute workout with my Wii. Ten minutes my ass... It turned into almost an hour... it kicked my butt... but mostly killed my knees. I truly felt like I had a fulfilling workout...

Here's my video check in:


Keep those prayers and letters coming in!

Day 1

And now for something a little different. I haven't been writing in awhile since FACEBOOK took over my social time... so I apologize if there was anyone reading my blog.... not so sure there is...

I'm embarking on changing my life for the good... for the better... for the best. I have recently (the past 5 years) gained quite a bit of weight... and I'm not very comfortable at all... It has taken me months to figure out how to get myself feeling better... motivated... proud of myself... so here we go.

Today is the first day of my personal journey to better health. Each day I will embark on doing something healthy for myself, for my body, my mind, my spirit. AND, I will back it up with a video entry as follows:



This is my way of being accountable with MYSELF. I can't live this way ANY MORE... My body hurts. Soooo, if you are reading this... say a little prayer, do a little dance, send some positive vibes my way. Cause I plan to really make a change for the better!

I Did Not Die

I Did Not Die

Do not stand at my grave and forever weep.
I am not there; I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow.
I am the diamond glints on snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain.
I am the gentle autumn’s rain.
When you awaken in the morning’s hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and forever cry.
I am not there. I did not die.

Author: Melinda Sue Pacho

With Balanced Blessings I Live in the Moment

This is the first of the smaller of my Angels Among Us series. The photograph is 12x6" in length... the framing that surounds it is approximately 18x12".





Interested in purchasing this piece? CLICK HERE!

With New Direction I Am Surrounded with Meaningful Love

Another Angel from the Historical Oakland Cemetery in Atlanta, GA. I think it was 96 degrees that day with 96% humidity... it was BRUTAL! But the beauty that came out of the pain of the heat was well worth the severe dehydration I ended up with... I'm not complaining, I just learned a VERY valuable lesson... DRINK WATER!!!

With Deep Introspection I Discover the Light Within

One of my new works... presently being exhibited for sale at Gabriel's Garden in Brentwood, TN.:



If you are interested in purchasing this piece of art, CLICK HERE!

“In Gratitude I Surrender to Invincible Love”

One of my new works... presently being exhibited for sale at Gabriel's Garden in Brentwood, TN.:



If you are interested in purchasing this piece, CLICK HERE!

This photograph was created by me recently while at the historical Oakland Cemetery in Atlanta, GA.

Angels Among Us Documentary

Interested in purchasing one of the first in a series of "Angels Among Us?" CLICK HERE! or you can also see and purchase my works at JESTER'S ART in Belle Meade, TN (greater Nashville).

Are you Influential?

Fast Company magazine wants to include your photo in the November 2010 issue, as part of a neat project it calls the "2010 Most Influential People."

This is a terrific chance to generate publicity from a magazine with a circulation of more than 538,000, as well as knowing how influential you really are.

Go here now to get a unique URL which you can then share with your followers via email, at your website and blog, and on the social media sites, but please be patient because their server is getting huge amounts of traffic.

It took me only a few minutes to sign up and upload my photo. I'll look for you in the November issue!

P.S. You can track how your influence has grown and where you stand at any time on the site. You'll also get a welcome message from Fast Company telling you that your photo will be in the November issue.

Vein of Gold

Our next workshop is set to begin Monday, July 12 @ 7PM Central... do you have your book? Here's a link to get it if not:

Angels & Pancakes?

Couldn't make it to the opening? LOVED my Angels and wanted to tell someone you know to come see them??? Thought so. Hee hee hee!

If you think you've seen my work already... think again... you haven't seen anything like this before... an artistically different way to present photography...

Well then... here's your chance to make it to the CLOSING Reception... and YES, my dear friend Susan Shanklin with ChefStack will be serving the MOST yummy "Dessert Pancakes" you've ever tasted!

Think Chocolate - Whip Cream - Bananas - Pineapple - Coconut - Syrups - Butter, and more!!!

Oh yeah, and enjoy the beautiful angelic mixed media photographic artwork by me!

Monday, June 28th
6PM to 9PM
Gordon Jewish Community Center
801 Percy Warner Blvd.
Nashville, TN

Peace y'all!

Eight Angels Emerge Through Flood Waters

Trapped by the historically high flood waters of 2010… I had to act fast. The deadline to deliver my artwork was May 28, and that date was quickly approaching. One might ask why did you wait so long to start this show in the first place? Well [deep breath], as John Lennon once wrote, “Life is what happens while you are busy making other plans.”

The idea of the show had been “brewing” inside my brain for literally months – I had been anxious to begin – but first, the house had to be refinanced, my parents 50th Anniversary Party in California had to be planned and executed… and everything else you can think of took a front row seat to my own personal artistic priority list.

So on May 1, myself and my assistant Jenn embarked on the beginning of what would be a wild ride to start and finish the most unique show of angelic works of my career as an artistic fine art photographer. Later that afternoon we discovered ragging waters at the bottom of my long and steep driveway, and, little did we know that down at the end of my road were neighbors preparing to lose everything.

We lost power early in the evening on May 1, and decided to call it a night… what we would see after the rains stopped on May 2 would leave us stupefied and in a shocked bewilderment.

We ventured down to the end of the road on Sunday afternoon to see what was what. We found a good portion of the neighborhood down at the end of our road in shock of the high waters that had overtaken the road and our way out.

All of a sudden – we started to ask each other, “Where do you live, where do you live, where do you live?” You see, we each own several acres, so we don’t necessarily know one another – in fact, my house is half a mile up Green Valley Drive’s dead end road. Not knowing my neighbors quickly changed, feeling an immediate connection, standing before the newly formed lakeside, we began to collect the floating belongings of one of our beloved neighbors whose home had been overtaken by the flood.

On Sunday, early evening, when electricity surprisingly returned, my neighbor Beth invited us to share a delicious meal with her family. Little did I know that the answer to my prayers (from the day before) would be sitting right next to me eating chicken tenders and salad. After dinner we were invited to tour the Davenport home and all it’s wonderful structural additions. Our final stop on the tour was Danny’s workshop – a place where he creates [the additions and] beautiful stained glass works of art.

I knew and was familiar with all the equipment in Danny’s workshop. I asked if there was any way he could help me with preparation of the frames and backdrops for my upcoming show “Angels Among Us.” Without hesitation, the answer was a resounding “yes!” My prayers had been answered!

Though we had no running water, no cable television, no internet, no land line, and sometimes no cell phone service, the neighborhood was bristling with energy and compassion. Our hearts reached out to those who had lost it all on the flooded frontage road. Young men were kayaking fourteen miles round trip to pick-up and deliver items such as: medications, pet food, water, milk, and different food items. There was a group of church members from nearby who sent us the most delicious fried chicken I think I’ve ever tasted. We, thirty families altogether, who were trapped here on Green Valley Drive, were making the best of an unprecedented situation.

While all this was happening, Danny (aka Moose) and I were diligently working at cutting up my framing supplies so I could get the show on the road. Occasionally a neighbor would stop in to see what we were doing, our little community of strangers had quickly become a makeshift family of characters.

After seven days of isolation, the floodwaters receded enough to get out through an easement between Green Valley Drive and Rustic Hills Road. Seeing the devastation in Kingston Springs was mind numbing. Later, I would get to view the aftermath at the Chapmansboro Road area on the other side of the river from us in Ashland City where all was lost.

As our frontage road opened up covered in a slick stinky mud, the restoration began. I felt so selfish having to continue working on my show every waking moment… but I had committed to this exhibit almost a year ago. And as they say in another one of my businesses, “the Show Must Go On!”

I had originally planned for fifteen angels in the “Angels Among Us” exhibit, however, only eight were able to appear complete. I guess the rest of my angels are for another time.

I hope you enjoy this labor of LOVE from me to you and yours, and if you were one of those affected by the great flood of 2010, I hope you have had as loving an experience with those around you as I have.

In love and light to all those affected,


Carla Christina Contreras
Survivor
“Green Valley Island”
Ashland City, Tennessee

Angels Among Us - An Exhibition

SURVIVORS: Green Valley Island

If you look closely behind us to the right, there's water... that is Green Valley Drive... nuf said?

The Flood of 2010, Ashland City, TN

Notice the point of the speed limit sign peeking out of the water... this photo was taken by Jenn Duncan - my friend who ended up stuck at my house due to the rains.I borrowed Jenn's camera and took this shot of the two lions that greet you as you drive by the second house... I just keep shaking my head in dismay.This is also a Jenn Duncan shot of the boys in the neighborhood Kiaking to the neighbors house that is now somewhat under water... this is serious.

Cousins - Beauties

A quick trip to New York City garnered a visit from two of my gorgeous cousins... Michelle came in from Boston, MA - she and I had a blast together... French Cuisine... AAaaaahhhh... Lisa took us down into the subway and over to Soho to see her clothing design studio... Wow! The line is called Vina Cava! Fantastic designs utilizing unique hardware. Wish she designed for the Zoftig woman... oh well...

Room with a View

There really is no place like New York City is there? Here's the view from my room at the Sofitel @ NYC.The larger than life ads around the city are works of art in themselves.Time Square was so crowded - I nearly lost my eye getting poked by umbrellas... geese...
M&M's Rule! Looks like this street is Chocolate Lane... yummmmmm...Lady Liberty is plentiful - she's one sexy babe!I'm CRAZY for "Project Runway" - here's a view of the Empire State Building through the trees at Bryant Park!So, if you need a cop - there's one right there on the corner of Time Square and... everywhere...

A "SENIOR" Photo Shoot

They don't make seniors like they used to... today's shoot was fun, a lot of work, exhausting, but mostly - a wonderful success!