Happiness. The dictionary defines it as:
1. the quality or state of being happy.
2. good fortune; pleasure; contentment; joy

Seems simple enough, but why do people make it seem so hard to attain happiness? I'm not a psychiatrist, I don't even have a degree, so I can't give you professional advice. But I can give you my opinion and it's just that, my opinion. You may agree, or disagree with it, and that's your prerogative, but this is my blog so if you don't like it, don't read it! :o)
I've learned that it doesn't take much to find happiness. It's not hard to find pleasure or joy in life. It's easy to be content. It is nothing more then simply taking a step outside the box, and seeing what you've been given for what it is. Looking at the good things in your life and not dwelling on the not so good things. "taking your lemons and making yourself some lemonade."
Trust your family, trust your friends and if it turns around and bites you, then so be it! You're life is not over, you've just tripped and fallen. Ask your family and friends to help you up, help yourself up! Live and learn right? That's no reason to put up a wall, and barricade everyone out of your life! That's what starts the downward spiral into being completely and utterly miserable!! How can you pursue happiness in your life if you've barricaded yourself behind some wall? Ever stop to think about it like this...if you put that wall up around you, you are blocking out the bad...but you're also blocking out the good...and blocking yourself in! Where's the happiness in that?
Unconditional. There's another word for you. Definition is:
1. not limited by conditions; absolute
Trust, love, accept everyone and everything that comes into your life unconditionally! If it turns out bad, you learned a lesson, but if it turns out good...it's happiness!!
Unconditional Happiness!!
Why am I blogging about this? I don't know. Because I can I suppose! :o)~ Or maybe, just maybe, it's because I have finally come to a place in my life when I have found it. I've found all of this out. There are things in my life that I want to change, so guess what I'm doing? I'm changing them!! I've started making lemonade, and I gotta tell you, it's really refreshing. I've pursued happiness, and I've found it! Unconditional Happiness! Thru friends, thru family and thru Jesus Christ! And I wish the same for you! *muah*

So I'm back in Wichita! Just returned from my trip to Nevada! Went to Reno, Carson City, Virginia City, and my now favorite place in all the land...Lake Tahoe! It was such a fun trip. Lake Tahoe is the most beautiful place I've ever seen. Mountains all around you in every direction, Crystal clear water, it was just so amazing! There was of course 1 bad thing about the whole trip. My camera was stolen. :o( So I have no digital camera any more, and more importantly, no pictures to show for my entire trip! :,( Very sad!! But like I told Brandon, I guess that just gives him a reason to have to take me there again! lol I met his family and they are all really great! His 6 year old niece Brittnee said, "Are you and Uncle Brandon married?" I told her no and she said, "Why not? You're a couple aren't you?" lol "From the mouth of babes" And every single one of them was giving him crap about getting married and having babies. lol His grandma asked him if he thinks I'm "the one." He said yes and she said, "Well what are you waiting for?" lol His mom was pointing out little wedding chapels every time we drove by one in Reno, his brother told him to make it official, his sister in law even got Brittnee to give him crap. "Brittnee, don't you want Uncle Brandon to Marry Jackie? Wouldn't you like to be able to call her AUNT Jackie?" Brittnee told us before we left, "The next time I see you guys, you better have kids!" lmao!! But as most of you know, until I find a different job, this relationship is at a standstill. :o( Anyhow, the trip was fun, I wish I could show you all the wonderful pics I took while I was there. :o( Maybe next time!

People rarely realize the effect that one calm, rational conversation can have on situations. If I've said it once, I've said it a million times; so many of the worlds problems could be solved with conversation, reasoning, compromise and a kind word or two. Maybe I'm going into the wrong career field. Teaching? Maybe I should be a counselor instead. ;o)~

I'm not really sure where to start with this. I've tried 4 times now to begin writing, but I have too many thoughts trying to make their way onto this blog and as I re-read what I type, I find it makes absolutely no sense. One thought brings on another, and another and they get all mixed up. So if you're taking the time to read this, I appreciate your effort, and I'm sorry if it gets confusing, but I have to get this off my chest.
Family...how's the old saying go¿ "Can't live with them, can't live without them¿" Well, that's never seemed more true! I love my family. I really do. ...But right now, certain members of my family have gotten my feathers ruffled! I'm a laid back, easy going person (for the most part), so when other people make mountains out of mole hills...out of ant hills really, I just don't understand it. Those of you who know me well know that I'm not a big talker. You're laughing right now aren't you? lol Well, what I mean is, I don't call people for no reason. I don't call just to say "hi, how are you?" What's the point? This is how that whole conversation is gonna go..."I'm alright, same thing, different day. How are you?" "About the same." That's it. No one has anything more to say, so we sit on the phone to listen to one another breath...yeap, your still alive, I can hear you breathing! Sorry, but that's not me. I don't do that with ANYONE! Not family, NOT FRIENDS, no one! I look at it like this, If something is going on in my life, odds are pretty good, I'm gonna call you, and let you know! I expect, that if something is going on in the life of my friends or family, and they want me to know about it, they too, will call me and tell me about it! Is that wrong? Am I just a cold hearted person? I mean, someone please, give me your opinion. And be honest, If you think I'm wrong, and that I should call people for no reason, please feel free to tell me so.
On another note, why is it so difficult for people to talk civil about things? I've come to find that one of my biggest pet peeves, is assuming. I hate when people hear half the story, and make their own assumptions about the rest and flip out about it. Assume...makes an ass out of me and you? More so...makes an ass out of you TO me!!..but again, a saying which has never been more true. I don't like to make assumptions because if I do, and then find that I was wrong, I'd feel like a real jerk.
I guess that's really all I have to say. Sorry if this made no sense to you, but thanks for listening anyway, and please, feel free to comment. Your opinions will be appreciated.

So people keep askin me "When are you getting married?" "When are you gonna have a baby?" I have a new answer to these questions...WHEN HELL FREEZES OVER! That's when! I took my puppy to the vet today because she has allergies, which are causing her to throw up. Poor baby...Wait, poor baby? How about poor me! Poor my bank account! $80 damn dollars?! Why is everything so damn expensive? What happened to the good ole' Little House On The Prarie days when people could trade a damn chicken for their dogs medicine?! Seriously, $80.00!!!!! At this rate, I'll never be able to afford to feed myself, let alone afford a wedding, or a child for that matter!!! I hate money!!!

Since I've been out of the military my life has changed so much!  And it's definitely for the better!  I have a new job doing security for Intrust bank.  I work with some Awesome people and so far I really enjoy my job.  Now that I am getting a consistent paycheck, I will be getting my own place soon which I'm super excited about!!  And I am seeing someone now.  His name is Brandon, he's so adorable, and he is the sweetest guy "in all the land!" (thanks Autumn)  and speaking of Autumn...She's coming home for a while and I'll get to see her very soon!!  Life is great!  I've never been happier!!  Of course I miss my friends and family who can't be with me, But I'm happier now than I have been in years!    

Frankie J~"Story of My Life"

lay your head on my shoulder
everything is gonna be alright baby dont you cry
dont you worry bout a thing i see a rainbow at the end
its gonna be alright so many problems around me
dammit wont they just go away every night i pray, yea
Lord wont you come my way wont you come and rescue me
help me see the light

what do you do when your water runs dry
when your greens and your blues turn to black and white
its the story of my life when the fires get out
can you turn em on, can you turn em on

i've tried so hard to make it
tried to do the best i could tried to do some good, yea
like the people that i could like my family if you would
trying to live a better life fake friends always around me
trying to be up in my scoop acting like they cool, yea
they dont know that i aint blind so stop trying to waste my time
and go on with your bull, yea

what do you do when your water runs dry
when your greens and your blues turn to black and white
its the story of my life when the fires get out
can you turn em on, can you turn em on

cada vez que siento que el mundo se me esta cerrando
solo pienso en escaparme del mal y cada vez que siento
que el aire se me esta acabando solo pienso en volar hasata donde nadie me pueda encontrar

I open my eyes
I try to see but I'm blinded by the white light
I can't remember how
I can't remember why
I'm lying here tonight
And I can't stand the pain
And I can't make it go away
No I can't stand the pain

Chorus:
How could this happen to me
I've made my mistakes
got nowhere to run
the night goes on
As I'm fading away
I'm sick of this life
I just wanna scream
How could this happen to me

Everybody's screaming
I try to make a sound but no one hears me
I'm slipping off the edge
I'm hanging by a thread
I wanna start this over again

So I try to hold onto a time when nothing mattered
And I can't explain what happened
And I can't erase the things that I've done
No I can't

How could this happen to me
I've made my mistakes
got nowhere to run
the night goes on
As I'm fading away
I'm sick of this life
I just wanna scream
How could this happen to me

I've made my mistakes
got nowhere to run
the night goes on
As I'm fading away
I'm sick of this life
I just wanna scream
How could this happen to me