Land of Osbourne

Have hope . Because it works wonders for those who have it. Be optimistic. Because people who expect things to turn out for the best often set the stage to receive a beautiful result. Count your blessings. Be inspired to climb your ladders and have some nice , long talks with your wishing stars. Be strong and patient , gentle and wise. Believe in happy endings. Because you are the author of the story of your life. Hope is not the closing of your eyes to the difficulty , the risk, or the failure. It is a trust that - if I fail now- I shall not faill forever ; and if I am hurt , I shall be healed. It is a trust that life is good , love is powerful , and the future is full of promise.

We always seem to want those things we don't have. Moreover, we are often convinced that if we had those things we want so badly, we would finally be happy. Singles who want to be in a relationship often believe once they are in one they will finally be happy. Those in shaky relationships hope their relationship will work out, because having worked it out will finally make them happy. "I will be happy when I am in love." "I will be happy when he/she does really loves me."  "I will be happy when I know he or she is committed to me."  "I will be happy when my husband/wife is more considerate."  Sound familiar? The truth is that happiness is an attitude. It's not something created by outside circumstances, but instead is completely within your control.  This means that you can be happy regardless of whether you are in a relationship or not.  You can be happy regardless of whether your relationship is working out or not.  If fact, if ...

Greetings Land of Osbourne audience, I figured I'd posted quite enough enlightening and uplifting food for thought type posts and would toss in some fluff for good measure. I know you love that stuff. I had surgery on my right knee on May 30th. Evidently I stopped breathing again. Strange how that happens when I am hospitalized. While helping me get dressed after surgery, John was having some trouble and he said to the nurse: "I guess I am better at getting her clothes off than putting them back on again" - LOL. Following surgery, Mom came and hung out with me and was my "step & fetch it" - Ozzy and Katie LOVED having their Grandma there. I had some issues with Cambridge Medical Center (again), and have now resolved to take my services elsewhere (as I should have done long ago - Heather was right);  John will also be taking his services elsewhere as well. Anyway, I was off work a week and a half - very boring - although I did purchase a used laptop s...

Begin telling the story of your desire, and then add to it the details of the positive aspects that you can find that match those desires. And then embellish your positive expectation by speculating with your good-feeling Wouldn't it be nice if . . . ? examples. You can say things like: Only good things come to me. . . I'll figure it out as I go along. . .. Every time you tell your better-feeling story, you will feel better and the details of your life will improve. The better it gets, the better it gets

"We are not saints; we are not heroes. Our lives are lived in the quiet corners of the ordinary. We build tiny hearth fires, sometimes barely strong enough to give off warmth. But to the person lost in the darkness, our tiny flame may be the road to safety, the path to salvation. It is not given to us to know who is lost in the darkness that surrounds us or even if our light is seen. We can only know that against even the smallest of lights, darkness cannot stand. A sailor lost at sea can be guided home by a single candle. A person lost in a wood can be led to safety by a flickering flame. It is not an issue of quality or intensity or purity. It is simply an issue of the presence of light." Whether you are the light or in need of illumination, may you experience the comfort of knowing you are never alone.

What I began to see over and over again was that when most of us get upset it is for one reason and one reason only. The universe is not behaving the way we believe it should behave. This could mean that we didn't get the raise we believed we were entitled too, so we become disappointed. If we had not expected a raise in the first place, however, we never would have been disappointed would we? It could also mean that someone does not treat us in a particular way that we believe we should be treated.  Or someone dies before we believe they should die. It can be as heavy as that. I am not saying it isn't sad, but at the same time it isn't our choice to say how long someone is to live, now is it? Those are our perceptions of what we want, of how we want the universe to behave. When we get disappointed, we never stop and think that it is our perceptions or beliefs that are wrong. We think it is the universe that is wrong because of how we feel personally! That is a pretty grand...

A dad is someone who wants to catch you before you fall but instead picks you up, brushes you off, and lets you try again. A dad is someone who wants to keep you from making mistakes but instead lets you find your own way, even though his heart breaks in silence when you get hurt. A dad is someone who holds you when you cry, scolds you when you break the rules, shines with pride when you succeed, and has faith in you even when you fail...

In life , there will inevitably be obstacles to encounter . But don't worry that they will seem too great for you to handle , because you can. You may doubt yourself at times , but know that if you have faith , you have everything. Faith is the key to being successful. If you know you're capable of anything because of who you are , you will always reach your destination. It may not always be easy, but it will always be worth it. Look ahead of you , never behind. Have faith in yourself. If you do, you will be amazed at what you can accomplish.

Often people believe finding a mate who loves them will be the answer to everything missing in their life experience. They want to find that one person who will, in essence, complete them. And almost without exception, they want that person , right here, right now ! But because we understand the Law of Attraction as we do, we encourage them to easy up a bit on the ''right here, right now''part, for this very important reason: If you insist on choosing a mate right now,that mate will be a Vibrational Match to how you feel right now. The person who comes right now will be a match to the essence of the person you are right now. When you are feeling misunderstood or lonely or unloved, you cannot find a mate who will offer anything different to you. If you have predominantly been noticing the absence of a wonderful relationship , the presence of a wonderful relationship cannot occur. Not right now. If you are seeking a joyful relationship , you must become joyf...

Well my readers, its time for an April Update. (contain yourselves)  Back in 1999, as I was getting out of the passenger side of my Ford Ranger, my right knee suddenly totally went all wonky on me and I fell. Its like my knee went sideways. Wow, that hurt. I slapped an ace bandage on that thing and called it good. I did go to the doctor and was told that I was fine, no worries.  About 8-10 years later, it happened again - wow. Pain. Again, I went to the doctor and was told that I am okay. Nothing to worry about.   Fast forward to April 24th. I had been pretty consistantly been working out on my elliptical, but thought I'd mix things up a bit and try some jumping jacks and follow it up with some of the excercises I learned to stregthen my back.  Mistake.  My knee went all wonky again, only this time, I couldn't put weight on it at all anymore, it would totally not hold me up at all.  I went to the doctor, got a knee brace, then a MRI....

Life is not all bad, just as it is not all good. Life is about experience. And often our greatest experience comes from our hardest lessons. But this does not mean we should not enjoy the pleasures of this world. For they exist to ease our journey. Neither does it mean we should dwell in morbidity because all good things will end. Instead let us recognize that life is a flow. It cannot stop, speed up, slow down or reverse. Things constantly move on. Because that is evolution. It is only by the leaving of one room that we can enter the next. And if we do not progress, we cannot grow. And if we do not grow we have no purpose. So we must accept, and make the best. Some people have a tendency to resist the flow. To try to stand still. And to feel resentful when they find that all around has moved on. But trying to keep the moment is like grasping a butterfly. As your fingers close around it the fragile beauty is destroyed forever. Better to enjoy it while it settles upon your han...

Your inner strengths, your natural abilities and everyday skills are the gateway to a brighter future. Posted: 08 May 2012 04:12 AM PDT We are given everything we need to have the lives we want. It is within you, in your make-up, to be whoever you want to be. Maybe your mindset is driving you in such a way that you are repressing those wonderful gifts given to you as part of your creation. But I am here with GREAT news. They are there, and they are yours! All you have to do is unearth them and build something spectacular. Our talents and skills are part of our being.  In fact, each of us has a distinct set of tools that are our own.  And that’s why we were put on this planet – to share those talents and skills with the world! Turn off any self-talk that tells you that you are destined to live a small life.  You’re not. You have internal gifts (resourcefulness, energy, attitude, all sorts of positive attributes) and external gifts (food, water, nature, peopl...

My husband is a huge Star Wars fan, and I guess through the process of osmosis, I am too. In fact, he has an extensive collection of Star Wars action figures, ships, etc - all in the original package that we are currently selling on Amazon. (look up riviera41797 if you're interested in buying any, we'll be listing more soon). So today (or this weekend,) will be the perfect opportunity to watch some Star Wars. I bought the blue ray edition of Star Wars for John for Christmas, which we've yet to crack open yet. I think we should watch some. Probably not tonight though however, as tonight is SUPERNATURAL. Sorry Obi-one, Chewbacca, Luke & Han, but Jensen Ackles & Misha Collins are way hotter. Have a good weekend readers. -April-

Love what you have. We live in a disposable society. We buy things, use them and then throw them away. Our landfills continue to grow, despite no one wanting garbage in their own back yard. Meanwhile, debt is also growing.  People continue to spend money they don’t have on things they don’t need. We need to come back to reality.  We need to focus on growth in our bank accounts, not on growth in the landfills and growth in our debt. So what’s the solution? How can people grow their savings, while shrinking their garbage and depleting their debt? Love is the answer. We need to learn to appreciate what we already have.  We need to love what we have. If you love what you have, you don’t feel the need for more.  If you love what you have, you can easily say no when you’re bombarded with 3000 marketing messages to buy each day (as estimated by Doug Hall at  doughall.com ).  If you love what you have, you’re not going to throw something out once it gets a ...

Anything is possible. If there was ever a time to dare, to make a difference, to embark on something worth doing, IT IS NOW. Not for any grand cause, necessarily. . . but for something that tugs at your heart, something that's your inspiration, something that's your dream. You owe it to yourself to make your days here count. HAVE FUN. DIG DEEP. STRETCH. DREAM BIG. Know, though, that things worth doing seldom come easy. There will be good days. And there will be bad days. There will be times when you want to turn around, pack it up, and call it quits. Those times tell you that you are pushing yourself, that you are not afraid to learn by trying. PERSIST. Because with an idea, determination, and the right tools, you can do great things. Let your instincts, your intellect, and your heart, guide you. TRUST. Believe in the incredible power of the human mind. Of doing something that makes a difference. Of working hard. Of laughing and hoping. Of lazy afternoons. Of las...

Stay true to all your beliefs and goals. Stand tall. Through all life's setbacks and disappointments, your dreams will come true. When no one else is with you, and no one seems to care, just whisper to yourself, "I am the controller of my destiny. It's up to me what comes to pass, and if I keep my thoughts positive and strong, my dreams will come true." When what seem to be impossible obstacles stand in your way, just think of all the times you got through yesterday. There is a place for you in this world. Stay on your chosen path. All the power is within you; be true to what is in your heart. Be honest within yourself; if you are, then you cannot fail. Your dreams will come true.

You will receive a body.  You may like it or hate it, but it's the only thing you are sure to keep for the rest of your life. You will learn lessons.  You are enrolled in a full-time informal school called "Life on Planet Earth."  Every person or incident is the Universal Teacher. There are no mistakes, only lessons.  Growth is a process of experimentation.  "Failures" are as much a part of the process as "success." A lesson is repeated until learned.  It is presented to you in various forms until you learn it -- then you can go on to the next lesson. If you don't learn easy lessons, they get harder.  External problems are a precise reflection of your internal state.  When you clear inner obstructions, your outside world changes.  Pain is how the universe gets your attention. You will know you've learned a lesson when your actions change.  Wisdom is practice.  A little of something is better than a lot of nothing. "Ther...

In kindergarten your idea of a good friend was the person who let you have the red crayon when all that was left was the ugly black one. In first grade your idea of a good friend was the person who went to the bathroom with you and held your hand as you walked through the scary halls. In second grade your idea of a good friend was the person who helped you stand up to the class bully. In third grade your idea of a good friend was the person who shared their lunch with you when you forgot yours on the bus. In fourth grade your idea of a good friend was the person who was willing to switch square dancing partners in gym so you wouldn't have to be stuck do-si-do-ing with Nasty Nicky or Smelly Susan. In fifth grade your idea of a good friend was the person who saved a seat in the back of the bus for you. In sixth grade your idea of a good friend was the person who went up to Nick or Susan, your new crush, and asked them to dance with you, so that if they said no you wouldn't have t...

1.  Life isn't fair, but it's still good. 2.  When in doubt, just take the next small step. 3.  Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. 4.  Don't take yourself so seriously.  No one else does. 5.  Pay off your credit cards every month. 6.  You don't have to win every argument.  Agree to disagree. 7.  Cry with someone.  It's more healing than crying alone. 8.  It's OK to get angry with God.  He can take it. 9.  Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck. 10.  When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile. 11.  Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present. 12.  It's OK to let your children see you cry. 13.  Don't compare your life to others'.  You have no idea what their journey is all about. 14.  If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it. 15.  Everything can change in the blink of an eye.  But don't ...

1. Do not walk behind me, for I may not lead. Do not walk ahead of me, for I may not follow. Do not walk beside me either. Just pretty much leave me the hell alone. 2. The journey of a thousand miles begins with a broken fan belt and leaky tire. 3. It's always darkest before dawn. So if you're going to steal your neighbor's newspaper, that's the time to do it. 5. Don't be irreplaceable. If you can't be replaced, you can't be promoted. 7. Always remember that you're unique. Just like everyone else. 8. Never test the depth of the water with both feet. 9. If you think nobody cares if you're alive, try missing a couple of car payments. 10. Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticize them, you're a mile away and you have their shoes. 11. If at first you don't succeed, skydiving is not for you. 12. Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach him how to...

1. I think part of a best friend's job should be to immediately clear your computer history if you die. 2. Nothing sucks more than that moment during an argument when you realize you're wrong. 3. I totally take back all those times I didn't want to nap when I was younger. 4. There is great need for a sarcasm font. 5. How the heck are you supposed to fold a fitted sheet? 6. Was learning cursive really necessary? 7. Map Quest really needs to start their directions on # 5. I'm pretty sure I know how to get out of my neighborhood. 8. Obituaries would be a lot more interesting if they told you how the person died. 9. I can't remember the last time I wasn't at least kind of tired. 10. Bad decisions make good stories. 11. You never know when it will strike, but there comes a moment at work when you know that you just aren't going to do anything productive for the rest of the day. 12. Can we all just agree to ignore whatever comes after B...

When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar and the 2 cups of coffee. A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, wordlessly, he picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was. The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was. The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous "yes." The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar, e...

There comes a time in your life, when you walk away from all the drama and people who create it.  You surround yourself with people who make you laugh.  Forget the bad, and focus on the good.  Love the people who treat you right, pray for the ones who don't.  Life is too short to be anything but happy. Falling down is a part of life, getting back up is living. There comes a time when you have to stand up and shout: This is me damn it!   I look the way I look, think the way I think, feel the way I feel, love the way I love!  I am a whole complex package.   Take me. . . or leave me. Accept me--or walk away!   Do not try to make me feel like less of a person, just because I don't fit your idea of who I should be and don't try to change me to fit your mold.   If I need to change, I alone will make that decision.

It's Monday.  Some people don't like Monday.  Take a moment to realize that, if you're reading this, it infers that since you own a computer and /or other internet device and have access to the internet, you probably live in a relatively wealthy and stable country, and are fiscally speaking, you're on sound ground for the most part.  And no matter how bad your day may seem, no matter how much that late bill payment bothers you, no matter how you might dislike starting another work week, no matter how much your morning commute might get on your nerves, no matter how much the price of gas pisses you off, remember, there are still children starving in poor areas of the world,and there are still good people dying in stupid, meaningless wars, and there are still people suffering and perishing from what in OUR world are easily preventable diseases.  And boy, all those people,they'd all just LOVE to be able to trade places with you.  Now, sip your hot mo...

Being the type of person who feels guilty over anything and everything, I was feeling guilty for not blogging, espicially after seeing so many cool blogs out there. Not that mine is cool by any means, but I established this and figured what the hell. I am still at Hunter Douglas, now at a new location, doing new things (mostly); I am in Roseville, and get this - I have a TITLE. Weird huh? No way do I feel I deserve it. I am the "Service Center Administrator". Not driving a new Cadillac Escalade or anything, but the benefits rock and I am happy. I have the benefit of a large company headquarters, but at a small location with only less than 10 employees - something I've always thought would be nice. No more stress like I had before in Customer Service (not that this is a cake walk, mind you); which is really nice for my Crohn's. Speaking of Crohn's Disease, I am happy to report I am still in remission. I am hopeful that if I stay in remission long enough, the st...

So far so good - things seem stable at work (am I jinxing myself by saying that?) For the most part I think I've got the basic functions down,  but I hate it when I make even the smallest mistake. We're moving to a different location (in Roseville, MN). Curious and slilghtly apprehensive about that. I have a lot of things I'd like to talk about but can't. Not here. Take care!

Greetings! Good news first: Previously I mentioned Hunter Douglas coming in to shut down Warren Steven, and that most employees would be let go. I was one of the VERY few who got to keep their job. I work in scheduling for installtions, measures and service calls. Stress level? NO comparison compared to what I was doing before. I enjoy working with Michelle, and so far, its all going well I think. I will officially have medical benefits next Thursday. (YAY!) Bad News thus far for 2011: Uncle Mikey died. Very very sad. :( My sweet Cane Corso (Italian Mastiff) Rommy died on March 25th. He was nearly 8 years old. He wasn't ill, or  injured. The day prior, he slipped and fell on our lower deck, but got up and came in.  The following morning, he slipped and fell again, but could not / refused to get up again.  John and I got him in the lower patio door, (he weighed over 160 pounds), layed him down on the floor, gave him some love, some pets and some cuddles. We tho...

Welcome to 2011! I can honestly say 2010 was a very tough year, and I am hoping that 2011 is way better. Today is my birthday. I am actually starting to feel OLD.It sucks!  John got me the following:  Fringe Season 2 DVD Glee Season 1 DVD Pepsi - tee-shirt Design Perfume (that comes w/a little bottle for my purse) Intuition razor/bath set -mucho cool! Oreo mousse birthday cake Oreo ice cream Birthday card that made my throat cry From Jeanette: Boston Terrier figurine 30 bucks cash From Mom & Dad Toy Story 3 DVD - (I really wanted this!) In other news... 1st - our garage door opener bit the dust. What a pain in the ass. 2nd - found out that Hunter Douglas is going to come in and shut down Warren Steven - with the slight possibility that they'll keep some of the employees - damn I hope so. I can't be without insurance I had  a fantastic new years eve with John. Positive thoughts for the new year much love, April

Happy Holidays! Hope you all got what you wanted from Santa! Here is my list of loot received: Bones Season 5 (most desired item I might add) Supernatural Season 5 Design Perfume  (my signature scent, which I was wearing on my 1st date w/John and on the day we got married) Capricorn One DVD Black fleece jammie pants w/white shirt 2 pair of purple fuzzy socks Vanilla jasmine bath set Lavendar vanilla bath set Elvis Presley calendar 2 stockings full of every kind of chocolate imagineable Boston Terrier socks Rainbow socks Fabrige egg pendant 20.00 target gift card 10.00 target gift card Vanilla candle set Banana coconut shampoo/conditioner, lotion, spray, and body wash Reindeer blend whole bean Caribou Coffee Nine West purple wallet (that matches my nine west purple purse!) John's Loot (afterall,this is the OSBOURNE blog, not just April's) Star Wars: The Clone Wars season 1 Star Wars: The Clone Wars season 2 2 star wars tee-shirts 2 star wars action ...

I got married in Las Vegas in April of 1997. When John and I were 1st planning on getting married, we went to the church I went to from the time I was 4 to talk to my pastor, and to begin making plans. I went and was fitted for a custom wedding dress, chose invitations, all that stuff you do to plan a wedding. As I was doing this, 2 things occurred to me. #1. Its expensive (obviously) and #2. it seems like a lot of the things you do is more about everyone else than about the event itself, which is about you and the person you’re marrying. So I took my Mom and Dad’s advise and began looking into getting married in Las Vegas. It seemed a lot more adventurous, and more about John and I than everyone else, which is sort of how I feel its suppose to be. John and I got married at “Las Vegas Wedding Gardens”, and we stayed at The Riviera Hotel & Casino. I still think of the time we had there fondly, and I hope that the Riviera is there for a while because it would mean a lot to me to ...

1st let me apologize, I know I have millions of readers out there wondering where the hell I am, I am constantly being barraged with complaints I don't blog enough. ;) In late October I was diagnosed with severe Endometriosis - numerous fibrioids, one the size of a baseball. So surgery of a hysterectomy was scheduled on November 15th. Okay, so that has been complete, and I am feeling fine, and am back to work - so all is well with the world again. No worries.  Mom and Dad are going to more "officially" retire and begin to live their dream, to travel the USA and have Minnesota as their "home base". Right after Christmas, (literally, December 26th) they begin their journey, starting at Arizona, and then moving on to Nevada. Not sure where they will end up next, but they are apprehensively excited. I am happy they are able to do this.  Crohn's wise all is well. Very strong remission. (knock on wood) I am no longer on speaking terms with my younger siste...

I know you've all been waiting breathlessly for me to update my blog ....(pause for wild applause), so here I am. Updating. John as of now is still unemployed, driving me crazy. AT least he empties the dishwasher now though. THAT is a major improvement. :) We also have added a new animal to our family. White kitten named Kashmir. Sounds so cute, so sweet, so cuddly, right. Wrong. She is the kitten from HELL. She was born on April 1st. Named her Kashmir from the Led Zepplin song. (love that song) man - she LOVES  to bite. We had to go out and purchase squirt guns (a 6 pack), and place them stragecially throughout the house. In an effort to get her to stop biting fingers, toes, anything her mouth can get on, biting Katie, biting Rommy, biting the iguana's tail, getting into the plants, climbing the screen door, etc. There is about an hour or 2 a day where she IS cute, fluffy, purry, cuddly kitty, the the other 90% of the time, she is a little shit. Hoping she calm...

Sometime this year, we taxpayers will again receive another 'Economic Stimulus' payment. This is indeed a very exciting program, and I'll explain it by using a Q & A format: Q. What is an 'Economic Stimulus' payment ? A. It is money that the federal government will send to taxpayers. Q. Where will the government get this money ? A. From taxpayers. Q. So the government is giving me back my own money? A. Only a smidgen of it. Q. What is the purpose of this payment ? A. The plan is for you to use the money to purchase a high-definition TV set, thus stimulating the economy. Q. But isn't that stimulating the economy of China ? A. Shut up and watch your mouth. Below is some helpful advice on how to best help the U.S. economy by spending your stimulus check wisely: * If you spend the stimulus money at Wal-Mart, the money will go to China or Sri Lanka . * If you spend it on gasoline, your money will go to the Arabs. ...

Rule 1: Life is not fair - get used to it! Rule 2: The world doesn't care about your self-esteem. The world will expect you to accomplish something BEFORE you feel good about yourself. Rule 3: You will NOT make $60,000 a year right out of high school. You won't be a vice-president with a car phone until you earn both. Rule 4: If you think your teacher is tough, wait till you get a boss. Rule 5: Flipping burgers is not beneath your dignity. Your Grandparents had a different word for burger flipping: they called it opportunity. Rule 6: If you mess up, it's not your parents' fault, so don't whine about your mistakes, learn from them. Rule 7: Before you were born, your parents weren't as boring as they are now. They got that way from paying your bills, cleaning your clothes and listening to you talk about how cool you thought you were. So before you save the rain forest from the parasites of your parent's generation, ...