What's Going On???

I know my readers are thinking, why has this blog been so sporadic?

Well, I can tell you why. I was married two years ago and ever since then I have not been able to do the things that I like to do, such as journalism, such as my photography, such as being around people that I like, friends and family.

As of October 18, 2008 that was all over. I chose to leave. I had a heck of a time actually getting out of the house in one piece but I did it. So here I am, alive and well. I have my children and we are safe. So from here on out, I can take care of the things that are important to me:

1) My Children.
2) Work.
3) My Bachelors Degree.
4) My Journalism and Photography, any websites I manage.

I just want my readers to know that my life is not going to be on hold any longer and that I encourage you to stay with me. I just mailed out my divorce papers, so I guess that means I am free.

I am updating all of the sections of the site now. Have a great weekend!!!

~Nika

The Family:La Familia:La Famiglia:La Famille

I'm going to begin by showing you what the Merriam-Webster's definition of family is:



Main Entry: 1fam·i·ly
Pronunciation: \ˈfam-lē, ˈfa-mə-\
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural fam·i·lies
Etymology: Middle English familie, from Latin familia household (including servants as well as kin of the householder), from famulus servant
Date: 15th century
1: a group of individuals living under one roof and usually under one head : household
2 a: a group of persons of common ancestry : clan b: a people or group of peoples regarded as deriving from a common stock : race
3 a: a group of people united by certain convictions or a common affiliation : fellowship b: the staff of a high official (as the President)
4: a group of things related by common characteristics: as a: a closely related series of elements or chemical compounds b: a group of soils with similar chemical and physical properties (as texture, pH, and mineral content) that comprise a category ranking above the series and below the subgroup in soil classification c: a group of related languages descended from a single ancestral language
5 a: the basic unit in society traditionally consisting of two parents rearing their children; also : any of various social units differing from but regarded as equivalent to the traditional family a single-parent family b: spouse and children
6 a: a group of related plants or animals forming a category ranking above a genus and below an order and usually comprising several to many genera bin livestock breeding (1): the descendants or line of a particular individual especially of some outstanding female (2): an identifiable strain within a breed
7: a set of curves or surfaces whose equations differ only in parameters
8: a unit of a crime syndicate (as the Mafia) operating within a geographic area
— fam·i·ly·hood \-ˌhu̇d\ noun


If you cannot see where I am going with this, let me explain. In the past, I have been with many families. I was born into a family. I lived with a family that was not technically my own but I became one of them briefly. I was adopted into a family and then I was married into a family.

To me, family is a group of people of which I belong. They accept me. Sometimes they don't like what I do but they still love me and want me to succeed. They help me get on the right path when I am going down the wrong one.

Family is always there. They don't leave you behind. They don't cast you aside. They pick you up when you are down. They may criticize you but they always show you the right way to do it. Even if it means holding your hand the whole time. They keep you with them so that they can guide you along the rocky roads.

It is important, that last sentence. Family stays with you no matter what.

That is all I have to say.

Time is Valuable

No matter how long you live, you will never have enough time.

There's always something new that I want to do, something new to experience, something new to taste, to see, to hear, to feel...

My kids ask me, "Mom, can you read me a bedtime story?"

My husband asks me, "Honey, do you want to go have dinner and a movie?"

My family asks me, "So when do I get to see the baby?"

My friends ask me, "Are you going to have any time next week for lunch?"

Sometimes my head just spins with questions and responsibility. Do I have time? Yes, I have time. Let me see. Let me check with my husband. Let me make sure I have a sitter. Let me make sure the kids are going to be in school. Let me see if I have anything else going on.

I am a slave to time now. It is so weird. How does someone who is a stay-at-home mom have no time?

For those of you who manage to work in a few minutes with your significant other, I have made a list of things you can do to kill time. If you have little ones still home, you can take them to all of these places.

1. Go miniature golfing. It's fun, short and you can talk about things.
2. Grab a pizza and head to the park.
3. Find a museum.
4. Book stores are awesome "third places" to socialize, listen to music and relax.
5. Locate an indoor track and go for a run. Or go back to the park.

I have wasted a lot of time not doing the things that I want to do, not saying the things that I need to say and not being the person I want to be. I hope this blog inspires you to try something new and spend time with the special people in your lives before it is too late. Don't let your everyday responsibilities bog down your life. Don't get sucked into movie night and don't assume that you have to go on dates at night, only spend time with your kids during certain times or only visit your family on holidays. Call your mom and for God's sake, kiss your loved one when they walk out the door!!!

~Nika