Thanksgiving Update

Well first of all I have to say that I hope everyone is having a wonderful Thanksgiving and I would like to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving! Secondly, I will be updating you all on how my semester is going, what's going on with Creative Ellusions, plus a few other updates!

First of all I would like to let you all know that for the last 6-8 months I have been helping out with helping my gma take care of her brother who died Thursday, November 25, 2010 at 8:32a. I say prayer for him and my family as we grieve the loss but cherish everything he taught us. I love and miss you already Uncle Lenoard. May you rest in peace!

Of course you all know that I have been going to college since August so sometimes my homework has my attention so its been kinda hard to fit in a quick update or by time I get to it I run out of energy! But I have been doing really well in all my classes! I am doing fairly well in POLSC 151 which I am somewhat surprised by my grade but I am doing the best I can. HUMAN 250 has been a tough class so far because the professor has no structure what-so-ever! Upon talking to others in the class they feel the same, don't get me wrong the professor does have some cool ways of making some classes really fun, but when he does lectures he has no structure. Of course, CIS 130 I am passing with a high A...big surprise because that's my specialty! But the class that has surprised me the most is MATH 121...I have the highest score in the class!! And to think I thought math was my weakest subject.


Well on the other event I have been doing some major planning for Creative Ellusions. Just a little bit of background on Creative Ellusions: It's a business that I started doing plans for the instant I graduated from High school. I have complete ownership in the business though I have not gotten a license yet for it. Right now I am working a little freelance under it. Most the work that I have been doing is all going to be copyrighted by both Creative Ellusions and myself! I have gotten a draft contract all written up, I have a database all set up and I do have small clientele that does include family. I do not earn nothing from it yet but I am in the workings to make that possible. Since I am majoring in Web & Graphic Design the primary service will be those two but I do have many other services available! (Website coming soon)


As for "The Official Site of Mandi Davis" this is now going to be known as "Mandi's Notebook" indefinitely! It dawned on me just moments ago. A couple days ago it was inspired by my mother who was telling a relative "She's always had a notebook and pen with her every where she goes." So because this blog contains what a notebook I'd carry around would it fits my personal site really well. Not only will it contain blogs but it will also contain some of my writings, personal work I do on the side outside Creative Ellusions, and miscellaneous things! I am working on getting the website together even though I have no designs thought of. So until now, this will be my website and I will have a re-launching later!! Depending on my research and plans, I may be moving this back to WordPress. When that happens I will keep you all updated.


Thanks for checking up on us!

Many Projects, Busy Life

To: All My Viewers
From: Mandi Davis
Date: 10-30-2010
Subject: Many Projects, Busy Life

Dear Viewers:
I would like to take out a little time out of my busy day to tell you that I am still alive. I have just been majorily busy with helping the family out, going to school, and working on getting a format together for the new page design. I have been trying to get it started so that I could get back to updating you guys but I figured it'd be better to at least make sure that all my viewers know the progress of how things have been.

So far I am doing very good in college. Classes have been keeping me busy, seems like I am always caught up and then I get behind again. But I guess that goes with the part of being a full-time college. I am doing fairly good in all my classes...political science I have been busy with trying to grasp the ideas that are being taught to me which so far I am getting better at it; humanities, the professor is hard to follow along with so I think I am just winging this class with the knowledge that I have from high school (which thankfully to my drama club is a good amount); introduction to computers, this one is an easy class that I am passing with flying colors; lastly, math is probably one of the classes I am doing surprisingly well in.

Another thing that has been keeping me away is that I have been busy getting ideas to transform this blog into a website to show potential clients and I am even trying to get ideas together to get my business site going. But so far I am having a busy time finding resources and getting my programs together to help me out with this process. It's been hard, fun, and amusing and soon I hope to be able to show you more of what I am talking about.

Changes are going to be coming soon and I can't wait. But I thank you all with your support!

Sincerely,
Mandi Davis

Chaotic College Life: A Slight Change

So I have been thinking about making a slight change in how I am going to blog about my Chaotic College Life. At first I was going to be summarizing my day, but upon discussing more about this to my Humanities class I figured I'd change things up a bit. How? Instead of writing what we learned that day I think that I am going to be blogging about what I got out of the lecture/lab that day PLUS give tips on how I think other students could learn from what I have learned. Then maybe I may include some thoughts and ideas for my future lecture/labs for that same class. However, I thought about ending the post here, but I'd hate to lose you all so I may just start with today's classes!

POLSC 151:
First exam for the class, I am thinking I did pretty good except for the fact that I freaked on the essay. It doesn't help that this was to a degree the first college exam I have had in the last two years [other than the Math exams I had two years ago]. I did study! Took me about 7 hours to do my note cards [they did help out with the last 12 minutes of the test] but because I freaked on the essay I had to wait for note period which meant that I didn't completely do good on the essay, but because I was confident on the multiple choice and still had the material freshly in my head [thanks to looking at the note cards a half hour before my test] I did great on that. I do highly recommend that if you ever get a teacher that allows notes that you not only use your notes from lectures but also doing note cards. Also if you have friends in that class, do a study group. Even if it's just you and that friend.

HUMAN 250:
Well this class so far is a great class. I am not only learning that its a great class were we can have fun and voice our opinion about the media but we can also have fun. I love this class because the Professor is great! Today in class he asked whether any of us were in to graphic design [um, yea I raised my hand] because he wants to have a picture for an article he is writing! Well I was able to get more info about the work he wanted and got to hear what he wanted so I have to work on that sometime tomorrow. Well with him asking me that I tweeted about it and because of something that happened in Humanities and me using Social Media I got a job offer that I cannot refuse (I'll keep you all updated on that as it comes along). So my advice on something like this...if an opportunity in your field comes in a class that you signed up for as a "blow off" class, go with and do what I did and take it to the next step!

CIS 130:
Second exam for the day and college life was in this class today! Did I study? No. Why? Well because I'm really good with computers and my brain is filled with all the knowledge from close to seven years as "apprentice" learning from my father I walked in confident with getting an A+ on the exam to a possible low A/High B. There were a couple questions that as I was taking the exam that I wish I would have just glanced through before the exam (I did have plenty of time in my 20 minute break to study) but I didn't think that I'd freeze again [ok I did but I didn't think it'd be in this class]. Even if you think your good enough to pass an exam because you think your smart enough...at least glance over it (especially if you don't like test/exams as well as I do).

MATH 121:
With Math being my most feared class I think today's class went well. I actually learned how to understand binary and what it meant. Now I am sure that'll have another computer class that'll help me understand binary so I am pretty glad that I really paid attention in class. Not only did we learn binary but we also went over our review for the first exam that'll take place in this class on Monday [yikes I better get started on my "cheat sheet" that we are allowed to have]. Thankfully I am pretty understanding with the stuff that I will be partaking in the cheat sheet that we are allowed to have and studying as well.

So I hope this wasn't as boring [which I am sure most of you thought that last one was] and that you understand that this is what I am hoping to portray with the Chaotic College Life series. I hope you guys and gals check back because I am trying to help you all out as well [if your in college that is].

Mandi

Chaotic College Life: Week Three, Day 1

Well today went really well for school! The last couple of times I have went to class seemed like things were dragging but today it actually felt different. Maybe its was because of the simple fact that it some what felt right that I was finally doing something right that made me feel better. But then again with just saying that I can't say that that's a right explanation. Anyway, today marked week three and day one of being back in college for the Fall 2010 semester. Thankfully since I scheduled classes for later during the day I can be able to sleep in til about noon so I get to sleep in. So most of the times my day on Monday and Wednesdays will start with going right to school after waking up. So without further ado I will get into a breakdown of my college day! Also today was the day that I got my student ID and library card so I think I am completely good to go for the semester!

POLSC 151
Today in political science was a different lecture because we are finally getting into something that I can actually start to understand. The U.S. Constitution!! Lectures are even getting really interesting because she gets us to understand what we are talking about by taking it down to our level...which is great for a professor to do because then she wouldn't be stuck failing us all. Also since its been a while since I have been in a government/social study type classroom I have been quite shy but somehow when I get my name called in class I take something that popped to my head that was relevant to the question and somehow got it right. That made my day so with that I just kept taking notes because hey, I'm learning something valuable. We didn't get through all of the chapter so I am not going into full detail until Wednesday!!

HUMAN 250
Oh the easiest yet fun class of the semester. When I first signed up for this class I first expected to watch movies everyday, then review or even just follow the text book. Well we haven't had to open the textbook yet this semester but Professor Bean [yes that's my humanities professor's name!! Funny I know] says that by mid-semester we should be in it. But today we got back our first journals...I got full credit!!! I was happy when I got it back because I was really hoping that I did good. After getting our journals back we started our discussion for the week...the war [mainly World War II]. We watched clips pertaining to the draft, Kent State University massacre, and a few others that we will be journaling about. Speaking of journal's I still have to do my second journal which I have no idea how I am going to make the Quran burning/Mosque controversy but I think I'll get it.

CIS 130
This is the most easiest class for me this semester because it deals with being on a computer and getting to know the computer. Hello? I am so good at computers that I could do this class in my sleep. Well today we went over what we had for homework over the weekend which was Chapter 3 which dealt with Computer Software. During the lecture my professor talked about Mozilla FireFox [a web browser that is widely popular right next to Google Chrome] and Google Chrome. I mention these two web browsers because these are the two web browsers that I enjoy using and highly recommend. I have both on my laptop and probably will always have both because they both are great browsers [which there will be reviews coming soon]. But at the current moment I am using Google Chrome. When the professor asked if there was anyone who used Google Chrome, I piped up and recommended the great features of Google Chrome. Since we went through Chapter 3 today and that's the last chapter before our first test, he dismissed class early without having us do a lab so I go out of class early.

MATH 121
This being not my strongest subject I hate going to the class but now that I have a teacher that takes time and actually takes my fears away in math I am starting to enjoy the class. Today we learned about exponents and roots which are things that start getting me confused. They still are as I have taken a break from doing my homework for this class to do this. But now I am not afraid to pipe up in class and ask questions. It was actually great to have one other person today think of the same question to go over in class so it didn't make me feel stupid that I didn't understand that question. So this class is starting to get easier and easier as time passes. Since math is math I just stick to it right aftewords because that way I'm not stressing.

Talking about not stressing, I think that I am gonna get back to doing homework as I have math homework and humanities homework. Keep an eye out for more blogs!!

Chaotic College Life: The Synopsis, Fall Semester 2010

Well most of you know that I am a full-time student. So most of my time is taken up by college, homework, and going to work itself. Well earlier I came up with an idea to do a blog series on the chaos that goes on in my life at school. Some of you are probably curious how I am going to fit this series in on top of homework and I'll answer that by trying to make this a part of my homework for all my classes overall. How will I make it apparent to all my classes? I don't know, I'll just make it a part of it because somehow I have a feeling that this may just help in itself (stupid thinking but hey I'm gonna go with the flow).

How this will work is that I will share with you things that I have learned in each class with posting summaries for my all my classes. Coming up with a great system will take time but for now this is going to be a work-in-progress type blog.What I am hoping to get out of this is to be able to look back one day and say wow, college really changed my life and I am glad that I got the education that I was able to get!!

First of all I am going to start off by saying that I will be creating Labels to help keep it organized and as I go I may just title with a cute saying or even just by a feeling for the day...I wanna be creative yet make it known that its is for the series.

Since this is starting the series for the Fall Semester of 2010 I will be giving a list of classes and the times I am in class. Plus with this one I am giving a description of the class right from the section information gathered from the college site. So without further ado, the class list:

POLSC 151 [Introduction to Political Science] Monday, Wednesday (Monday August 30 - Monday, December 13) 2-3:25p

This course emphasizes American political institutions, policy formulation, diverse political issues and key issues. This course also provides a foundation for responsible citizenship. Emphasis is given to the federal level of government with a critical look at the contemporary problems in American democracy.

HUMAN 250 [Visual Media Literacy] Monday, Wednesday (Monday, August 30 - Monday, December 13) 3:30-4:25p
This class will acquaint the student with the cultural messages that are created and manipulated by movies and television programming. Each student will be provided with the vocabulary and critical tools necessary for discussing and writing about these virtual media. Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to analyze the visual media and their role in shaping his or her world.

CIS 130 [Introduction to Computer Information Systems] Monday, Wednesday (Monday, August 30 - Monday, December 13) 5:30-6:55p
This course provides the students with the basic knowledge of computer information systems and includes both computer concepts and hands-on use of various computer applications. Computer concepts include computer system basics of hardware, software, files and data storage. The hands-on portion consists of using the operating system, spreadsheets, word processing, databases, presentation software, e-mail and the Internet.

MATH 121 [Technical Mathematics I] Monday, Wednesday (Monday, August 30 - Monday, December 13) 7-8:55p
Description coming soon!

Keep checking back for more of the Chaotic College Life!

Chaotic Ideas in Organization

So I have been brainstorming many ideas for some more ways to make this an interesting blog. I am also working on a way to get these into pages as well. Sounds like on top of going to college (and yes making a little blog series out of it is going to be on of those many ideas). In case most of you haven't noticed that I not only do book reviews but I also just blog about anything in general as well!! I am slowly working on ways to get this site running better because this is a mini project that I am hoping to make a portfolio for a future class!!

Some of the many interesting ideas I have for the site are:

1. Better reviews!! I am going to be redesigning the way I am going to be reviewing books, albums, artist, sites, etc. I am even thinking about changing around what all is included in the review which means there may be some added content to most and many reviews. The rating system may even go through a small change, this though I have not completely figured out.
2. Follow Friday In the mist of the Twitter Follow Friday (yes I have a twitter and I try to partake in Twitter Follow Friday when I am able to get on the account) but I have started to work on getting new followers for my blog. I started this week and I am going to continue next week. So keep an eye every Friday for a list of my Blog & Twitter [coming soon] Follow Friday recommendations!!
3. College Blog Series As most of you know I am going back to being a full-time student at Monroe County Community College! Well since this is part of starting a new chapter in life I am going to start making a habit of making a habit of blogging about my day at college every day that I have classes (which are Monday and Wednesday's) for a whole semester. That's right I am going to blog about my Chaotic College Life series. Yeah I am a dork, so sue me! (Not really just joking, I'm a smartass if you haven't realized)
4. Song of the Day Music is a great part of my life that there are some days that I start listening to music as soon as I wake up. This has inspired me to start trying to make it a habit of making a daily posting of a song that has touched me that day! How will I pick which song will be the song of the day? It'll either be picked at random, how many times it was listened to, how its impacted my day, or just by how I have the song rated in my iTunes. Now there are countless number of songs out there but I am pretty much selecting them from the 4,000+ songs that I have in my iTunes, however; I will take suggestions!
5. Random Updates I have from time to been known to post something about my day as well and this is not gonna change. It may have a different approach but these are going to continue! I enjoy being able to share my walk in life with people that I will not change that! I am not guaranteeing that I will give juicy details and if I don't feel like going into detail I sure hope you understand that there may be a reasoning behind it.

All in all this blog is my way of showing my work of to the world. Not only in profession but in life. This is more a personal blog then just a set blog but I do incorporate everything in my life into this!

Still Alive, Just Busy with Brainstorming

Just a quick update to let you know that I am still hear, I have just been busy with getting back to school [full-time], work [part-time], helping family out, having a relationship, and trying to get back into work for Primerica on top of all this. Summer has always been a busy season but it seems that since I have graduated High School life itself has gotten a lot busier, chaotic, and active! I have done a lot of growing up and I have to say that I am proud with all the lessons that I have learned in my life so far. I have done many things wrong in the past but the things that have been going on lately has made life the more meaningful!! I am glad to have wonderful people in my life and those people know who they are!!

I just wanted to let you all know that things keep going great with Andrew and I am glad that I have him in my life!! I have recently found out that anything that has happened in my day I cannot wait to share with him. Not only that but each night I get to talk to him on the phone makes it special. I haven't seen him in two weeks so I have been busy trying to get it to were I can see him before I get really busy. On top of this blog I got a social life but soon things are gonna keep getting updated.

I am working in a system were I keep this updated more but for now this is all I needed to let you all know at the time!!!

Full-Time Student, 2 Part-Time Jobs with a Relationship on the Side

Well I noticed it has been a while since I have posted anything so I figured I'd take the time out of my busy day to let you all know the latest changes that are going on with not only me, but things that I usually have been talking about on here. Another thing is that I am sure that you've noticed the difference in the layout and even the link. Before most question yes I moved from WordPress to Blogger (a.k.a BlogSpot) and its all because I wasn't happy with the theme's. I couldn't get the feel for the themes over there and plus I still wasn't getting comfy with some of the features and the limited stuff I could do. But most of all this is just a blog telling you all about things that are going to be coming into play.

First is that I am getting back into something that I started to do about a year and a half ago but had to give up after my uncle died. It's not just something, its pretty much what I felt was an answer to my prayers that I still see are a little blurry still at a bit but I am starting to see things get clearer each time. I believe that I have mentioned Primerica once before but its company that I started working with back in February of 2008. I didn't want to give up but a month after I signed up my uncle was killed in a motorcycle accident [see RIP Hollis Wayne Hurst Jr (June 14, 1961 - March 14, 2009] and my family needed me more than anything. But with my family, and not just my family but Andrew, wanting me to better myself I am doing that part-time on top of going to school full-time while still working at Meijer part-time. I'll talk more about Primerica as it goes on and I am hoping to get out of Meijer if possible.

Another thing I am looking forward to is college starting back up!! I think I have mentioned before that I finally got things settled to were I was finally ellgible for the Pell Grant so with that I am going back to school full-time at Monroe County Community College were I am going to major in Media Arts and I am minoring in Business. The Fall 2010 semester for me starts August 30th and goes to December 13th. I have classes Monday and Wednesday's that very from the time of 2p to 9p. The classes that I am enrolled in are CIS 130 Introduction to Computers, MATH 121 Technical Math, POLSC 151 Introduction to Political Science, and HUMAN 250 Visual Media Literacy. Now my last couple of semesters were two classes less only because I was only able to afford that but now since I don't have the greatest job that I use to have I had to ask for help for this school year and now that I'm able to be a full-time student I can take more. So I can't wait for college to start because it's been 2 years since I've been to school so I'm really pumped!!

On top of going to school full-time and trying to get my career change to Primerica I'll be going back to work at Meijer as soon as I am cleared to go back from the doctor. I tell you the summer didn't start off right but I have a funny feeling that things are going to start getting better. I am sure that if God didn't want me to get out of Meijer he wouldn't have made the summer go the way he did. How come I'm not working this summer? Well it all start with me popping my knee at the Detroit Hoedown and it got to the point were it caused severe knee pain. Thankfully when I go back to Meijer I have to tell them that I have to go part-time starting immediately because I am going back to school part-time. I am not sure how it's going to work but I am putting my faith into God and letting him guide me down this path that will be exhausting.

On top of being a full-time student with having two part-time jobs I have time to have a nice and steady relationship with Andrew. This is a totally different relationship because he supports me in everything I am doing and realizes there may be times were we won't be able to talk but he has faith in not only me but our relationship and tells me that all this will benefit us. Okay maybe he alone don't say that but with me explaining that I'm not only doing this to try to better my life and our future together that [yes we've only been together for close to a month, we are slowly planning our future] we wish to have. I am sure you have all either read or even seen me throughout but ever since Andrew and I started talking we both have felt a strong connection. We have been taking it very slowly because we want the same things and want to make sure we are not pushing each other into doing anything we don't want to do.

I would have to say that I have to be thankful to have Andrew in my life because he has helped me find the person that I am. He knows the right things to say to make me laugh, knows when I am not myself, and even has the ability to piss me off one moment [not to bad yet but I'm sure we'll have our moments] and then put a smile back on my face the next. There is something about Andrew that makes me love him and I don't know what it is yet. With the other guys I dated I have never gotten the feeling I have with Andrew. It's like I have tweeted before "Everyone has a soulmate, you just have to be patient while on the search and once you find the one, you'll know" and I completely 100% sure that I have completely found the one. I just have to convince everyone that I have found the one and if no one wants to believe me then I'll prove to them that he means a lot to me then any other guy that I've dated!!

Most of you also know how my relationship was with God about 3 years ago. Well I tried promising myself when I got engaged the first time and was going to college that I wasn't gonna let anything ruin my relationship with God...well I kind of sinned big time on that one but with the help of Andrew I have found my relationship, and I mean my true relationship, with God and I am getting better at just letting him show me down the right path and without that I wouldn't be were I am today. I just have to say that if you had a relationship with God and things got rough for you like they did for me...don't give up! Things WILL get better. Look at me, I wasn't making the best decision...but now that I have the right people in my life that God wanted here I am back on the right path.

I just have to say that if your life isn't the way you imagined them...look at me my last year was a rough one and it took one person to enter my life, remind me that God will help me in my life if I gave it to him and I am getting back on my feet. If that's you I will pray for you!! Don't give up...just do what you need to do to better. All you need is ONE person!!

My Organized Chaos Life: The Newest News

Well most of you who keep up on here know that I am a busy person. Some know that I am struggling in life and some know that I am also happy. Many don't know the full story, all don't know the whole detail. I am a person of not being afraid to tell anyone anything that they want to know...but I will let you know when I don't want to go into full detail. But there are just some things that just have to be in full detail for people to imagine what I am going through. This blog helps me out with that and that's what I love about some of you people who comment on anything and give me good remarks or even advice, I do take in affect and take in your advice...I won't follow it all the time to be honest.

Getting back on task I do have to say that the last two weeks with getting to know Andrew [yes this is my newest boyfriend and we are not making any big moves until we both have the same answer] has been the best two weeks ever. I love how he understands me and how I can understand him as well. I will not lie and tell you that I honestly meet him online and yes I was careful when I first started talking to him. Once I got comfortable with him was when I got the connection that both of us felt instantly. But if most of you are thinking that I may be going to fast...I disagree because we do have a distance in the relationship, we are both working on giving each other our full 100% trust but I know he's different then all my other exes because he doesn't push me and is willing to wait when I am ready.

The site that I meet Andrew on was OkCupid. A friend of mine had told me about the site when I had left my ex but I wasn't in any mood at the time to start jumping into anything until I knew that I needed to prove to myself that it was time. Had it been my ex that broke up with me I may have not joined the site within a month but because I left him and I knew that it was time for me to move on, I am glad that the night I joined OkCupid was the night I meet Andrew! Why? I wouldn't be happy today if I didn't join the site! Back on topic again, I get a message from Andrew and we start talking. We connect instantly and ask each other out. We both say yes and continue to talk on the phone each day.

Remember how I said I like to be honest, well I won't lie and say that we haven't talked about the future or even given each other support on trying to get back into college or finding better jobs!! Cause we have and actually are. Since my knee went out plus with talking to Andrew and really being able to connect with God again [yes I said it I have found my relationship back with God with getting together with Andrew] plus with me going back to college that it be time for me to seek a better stable part-time job while going back to school. Well this is were the support from Andrew is coming in great.

I don't quite remembering talking about my "short" employment with Primerica but I was employed by them and recently thought about giving it another try but didn't have the support about a month ago that I do now! Well little did I not know that my aunt [who I am very close to] just hired into that company and she wants to get me back into there!! I told Andrew that I have even given it thought and heard my mother tell my aunt that she would support me [and I am sure she would as long as I listened to what needed to be done]. Well Tuesday I am going to the opportunity meeting to talk it over with my RVP and even the people who may support me [and most of them already do] about setting up a way to help me out with getting this back in line. So I am hoping that things go good with Primerica because I may be back with working with them. So this is the next big step I have made since leaving my ex [having Andrew along for the right is just a plus plus plus].

Another great thing [even though I signed up for the classes before meeting Andrew] is that I am going back to college at Monroe County Community College at the end of the month. I am majoring in Media Arts and minoring in Business. This semester I am two credits shy of being full-time but next semester [Winter 2010] I may end up going full-time. My class schedule is as follows: POLSC 151 Introduction to Political Science, Monday and Wednesday's 2-3:25p; CIS 130 Introduction to Computers, Monday and Wednesday's 5-6:55p; and MATH 121 Technical Math, Monday and Wednesday's 7-8:55p. Classes start August 30 and go to December 13th. Andrew fully supports me and is glad to see that I am going to college to do something that I love. He himself is also a college student!

But not only do I have things to look forward to, I also have my hardships in which Andrew is seeing all the stress that they are causing me. Not only am I not bringing home any income he understands that I hate it and that its pain and a knee problem that is causing me to not work. When I went to the hoedown I ended up popping out me knee, being off for a month and having no pain. Well I went back for two weeks and ended up popping my knee out again. The doctor tells me that I have dislocated my knee cap and that the pain may always be there. Funny thing about that is that he asked me what I did then he asked me, "Are you looking for new employment?" I did give him my honest answer which just so happen to be a yes. This is just more details as to why I am seeking back employment to Primerica.

Not only am I going through the hardship with my knee but my ex is starting to cause me trouble...okay causing trouble may not be the right way to describe it. Its more hurt because he is not living up to his part of the deal since getting all his things back because I was stupidly caringly willingly gave him stuff back without getting the thing that meaned the most to me...MY DIGNITY!!! So since I have something that needs to be paid by him, and given back by him...I'm gonna make him wish he wouldn't have cheated on me. Better yet there are things I know that I am not in any position to tell him but I know that he''s not no better then what he seems. [*Note* It does hurt me to say that I honestly don't see friendship between him and I but I just can't because he just isn't the same person I knew].

With all these emotion, yes this has all been going through my mind, I have to say that with meeting Andrew and Andrew giving me all the support that things are getting better and with having him in my life just makes me this happy as well as him, I'm not wanting the feeling to end. I honestly can't tell you the last time I've felt like this but I have to say that it has been honestly a good 8+ years and I don't want the feeling to end. So even if I take my relationship at a speed that is good for me...please just be happy. If you want to give your advice I won't stop you, I welcome it. Whether I listen...well that will just have to be another blog!

Upcoming Reviews and Blog Postings

Well I know it's been a while since I have blogged but I have been quite busy with work, selling my car, getting things done around the house for and with mom, signing up for Fall classes and trying to figure out what my next step is in life. Even trying to figure out things with my business and all as well. I may be having time more when I get to part-time in work and full-time in being a student to blog about things as well. It also don't help when my BlackBerry is down but I am quickly working on changing that soon!!!

I just want to say that there are new reviews that are going to be posted here soon. I recently have found new movies to watch. From Paris with Love is the most recent movie that I have watched (just actually finished watching it here) and as soon as I get time in the next few days I will be posting a review on that movie. Another great movie I've seen is Inglorious Bastards starring Brad Pitt!! With having to restart it so many times I've come to find more quotes in the movie that are great that make me laugh just the way the actors/actresses carry there roles. Lastly I cannot forget about the greatest movie that I have watched countless times that I haven't gotten a review done for, Avatar!! That is another great animated/real life movie that makes you wonder, can that happen in life? Just look out for many of those movie reviews.

Music reviews that I got coming up are the lastest two albums from great artist. Eminem just recently came out with a ablum called "Recovery" which includes the latest hit single "Not Afraid". Me recently discovering that hit made me discover the album so I have to still listen to the album and get my input ready for the review!!! The second album in review question would be Usher's latest album "Raymond v Raymond" which includes the hit single "OMG ft. Will.I.am" which has me wondering, will Usher ever lose his touch? Look closely for those reviews coming.

Many of you may have noticed that I am a HUGE Twilight fan, and if you haven't...well there you go you know now. I have been geared up for the newest saga release of Eclipse which is coming to theaters in US at 12:01am Wednesday, June 30, 2010. If I didn't have to work so earlier in the morning and had someone to go with I may be going but I have to find someone to go with!! May be going sometime before my Fall classes start up!! Which means I am going to be blogging about my story of becoming a Twilight Fan and whether I am Team Jacob or Team Edward (if you follow me closely on Twitter you may already know, if not you'll have to wait for the posting!!)

Another blog coming soon is about a question that a friend of mine asked that I will not be revealing until I post the blog!! So if your curious on my thoughts and reviews, please keep coming back for more!! Til next time, Mandi Lynn

Brainstorming, Idea's, Advice

So I am hoping that everyone has been paying attention to the more recent activity going on to the website. I have to admit that in the mist of things going on in my life, the thing that has been my dream has always been one thing that has kept me from all the things that suck in life and make me get back up and keep marching. With that being the case it has me focusing on things and reaching the line of getting back into college. Which has been getting me to want to keep the site and Creative Ellusion in my dreams. So I am reviving them and kinda need help!

Yes I am asking help from all of you. No I'm not asking for you to do all the work. All I am asking for is your help in sharing your ideas, advice, or even help on brainstorming. Whether your just a friend who has no idea what to do and you'd like to see my potential or see what I can do with something you'd like to see me try, then give me that incentive and maybe it'll add some zing to the site. I don't care what you come up with, if it sounds reasonable I'll try it!! If it sounds horrible I'll be honest and brutal and let ya know. But ya never know until you say.

However there is one thing that calls for attention first!!! The name and catch phrase that I have for the site is in desperate name of being changed!! That's right I'm sure you all have been turned away from it but ya know what if ya really want to help with seeing the changes come quicker then your ideas and advice may boost up the changes and make this a great and enjoyable site that makes people come back!!

On a lighter note I would like to take the time out to update you all on my adventure back to college. I registered for my fall classes online today for Monroe County Community College. I am taking CIS 130 Introduction to Computers Monday's and Wednesday's from August 26 to December 12th were my class time is from 5:30p to 6:55p; I am also taking MATH 121 Technical Math which is also Monday's and Wednesday's from 7:00p to 8:55p. I am glad that I have been given the chance to go back to college and I am very happy.

Throughout the brainstorming, idea, and advice I will share my ideas through posts so that way I keep you all on the same page with me. But for now, I need help on the name and catch phrase. A hint is to look around the site, talk to me a time or two and you may be able to help. If it helps, got to my Facebook profile add me as a friend and let me know you found me through here [that way I don't deny ya] and we can talk there!!
Thanks,
Mandi

Changes: Good vs. Bad

Well most of you really have no clue as to who I am and are clueless as to why I blog and why I am so avid with this blog. It has been my avid dream to have my own website, business, and do good in life doing what I love to do. That is why this and Creative Ellusions has been a huge project to me after graduation. Well my love for computers has to start way before graduation and probably even began while I was in middle school. All because my father found it the only thing that brought us close and because it was something that interested me to the point that if I continued to ask questions, he'd answer and I'd make him proud. Which was why after a while I kept telling myself that I was going to go to college for a degree that had to deal with messing with computers.

Well graduation (Sunday, June 3, 2007) was coming quicker and quicker. I knew with the way I acted in High School that I probably wouldn't get a free ride to college on a scholarship for sports and good academics, all because I hardly applied myself my freshman year and had a hard time barely getting back on the good in the academics my Sophomore year. But I made the best with the $500 scholarship that I had received for College just days before my graduation ceremony. Graduation came and I was the proud that I had finally reached my goal of just graduating High School.

Well a couple days after graduating from High School, my mom had me fill out an application at a job she was working at that I just so happen to get a job offer from the day I turned 18 and 10 days later started. I started working at this place on August 1, 2007 and by August 15th I was enrolled into College and had college classes started by August 31st. Things were changing good for me. I had a full time job, was going to school part-time, still single and not letting things get in the way. That's when I meet Zac [my first fiance].

Don't get me wrong I did love Zac the whole time I was in a relationship with him. But I do have to admit that I was blind the whole time I was with him and he was using me for the money. I do have to admit though he was really supportive over me and did have a heart for me but once he realized that my dreams were coming true and that I was happy, he used that to his advantage. He got phones out of me, love, sex, everything that he could imagine. Don't get me wrong with my good choices I was trying to get him to get his life back on track and it was working to a degree. Worked all the way until we moved to Toledo together, he stopped taking my medicine and saw that he was starting to ruin me.

Mind you by this point I had quit my full-time job and was officially jobless [for an enitre month], broke, and starting to worry whether I could go back to College for a second year. I did however earn 6 college credits when I was with Zac. So when I moved back to my parents after he dumped for me trying to make my dreams come true while trying to make a life with a man that I was engaged too. I ended up getting my job back at McDonald's, and then that's when I hook up with a good friend from church, Scott.

Scott was the second guy that I got serious with since graduation. He's the second fiance that I thought was going to a good guy. Shortly after hooking up with Scott I got hired into Kroger were I had a new start at a new job that I was hoping would get me far in life. I was also starting to figure out whether I could try to get back into college. A month after hooking up, Scott and I are layin in bed and he proposes. Out of the blue he just looks at me and says, "Will you marry me?" I [dumblying] say yes. Well about a week or two after Scott proposes and its made as a more official engagement on this one as the last one I start seeing the true colors of Scott. So I break up with Scott.

Now I am single again, working part-time at Kroger, and no idea on how to get back to College. I about gave up on all my dreams and figured I'd just be a part-time cashier living at my parents working on minimum wage trying to earn my way up the damn totem pole. Well then one night Chris's mom [yes his mom] is checking out and starts talking to me. Tells me that Chris is single, that she thinks he may be interested in me and that I should give him a call. So we start talking and that's when things start getting better for me!

Chris [was] that finally brought me back to realizing who I was and what I wanted to do. He made me realize that things were gonna change if I started pushing myself to believe in myself. So that's when I told myself that if he was going to stand by me in all my decisions that he may even keep finding out that I am my own person. That's when I got a better job at Meijer's and was working on getting back into college. Then things started getting worse and then we split up for a couple months.

During our split I go from part-time to full-time at Meijer and was on the midnight shift [making some good money again]. But I was starting to hang out with someone who was gonna take me down with her if I didn't change. My family was noticing, Chris started noticing [only because about a month after we split we started talking and hanging out again], and they were gonna put a stop to it. So I dumped a friend that I thought was going to be a great friend the rest of my life only because I found out something that hurt me...the person was starting to treat the guy I loved [Chris] with the utmost disrespect and was texting him to come over when I wasn't there. Thankfully Chris didn't like her [that's gonna stop that].

We finally get to Febuary 2010 and Chris asks me to stay the night at the new house [he moved to Dundee] and that's when we hook back up. Things start getting back on track, and I'm happy. I start doing more thing that I find I like. I couldn't be anymore happier!! I apply for the Pell grant and continued to be showered by Chris's love. I get a new car, new phone, new friends, and a new lookout on life. But then things started going downhill. I hear rumors that my relationship with Chris is in the ruts, that he may leave me and I fight and think things are getting better...

June comes and we prepare for my brother's graduation. A tornado swipes through Dundee June 6, 2010 at 2:17a. F2, 130-135 mph winds, 800 yards wide and pretty much covers the whole 13.5 miles of Dundee that it could. Dundee is devistated, my brothers graduation party was rained on but a success yet we find out that they canceled graduation because of the tornado. Then he graduates and as things for me and my family get better, things for Chris and I start getting worse. I glance at his phone and finds out that he may be breaking up with me again, I start feeling distant, yet he had no idea.

Today I find out that we need to come up with gas money so we can take my car to Detroit so that Chris can get to court. So he decides that he is gonna go scrapping to get the gas money. Since it was for my car I figured I'd tag along, well he stops me and I come to my parents. While at my parents I log into my college e-mail and college account and find out that I am awarded $8,325 to get back into College. Then I made a decision that I am leaving Chris because I am feeling distant. So I am back to were I can see my future and this is on GOOD CHANGE that has me happier than ever.

So as of today I am back to being a college student working on bettering myself and I couldn't be any more happier. Yes I wish I could have been able to keep Chris in my dreams but I think I'll find the right guy out there while getting my dream reached. So with this change in my life, more GOOD CHANGES are coming not only to me in life but to my dreams, this site, and my goals.

I am happy I got to share this with you and I'm glad that you listened!

Getting Things Off My Chest

So many times have I found myself just sitting here wishing you were in my arms and that I was in yours! It just doesn't feel right knowing that what we had was real and that you threw it away. My family and friends loved you and most of them still do. Most of them know my feelings for you still are hard. They ask me why I put up with it and I tell them that I know I shouldn't but I just have this feeling that makes me so curious. We've known each other for almost close to 5 years and didn't start getting close for the last 2 years.  I remember the day 2 years ago when we realized that we weren't to different from each other. I was engaged to my first fiance in which we both know was a complete asshole who did nothing but abuse me and treat me like a slave. I still to this day never knew why I said yes to him when clearly it didn't work out.

We were at a party celebrating a mutal friends birthday [the friend in which became my second ex-fiance in which he didn't nothing but treat me like I was just there for sex and not for love] and you left a little shortly before I arrived. I don't quite remember why but after that day I never saw you again until I was with my second fiance in which we spent a lot of time over there because to him you were his best friend in which we both now know that he's annoying as hell and immature as fuck. But the day that I feel head over heals for you was the day you showed that you'd help any friend who was in serious trouble no matter what the situation is, and to this day I wonder if you still would.

The 3 months that we were together were the best! I always had a smile on my face even if I was going through a hard time. I remember a couple nights you let me cry for 5 minutes because I missed my uncle yet when you knew I need to get stronger. I would never cry for more than 5 minutes because after the 5 minutes you looked at me and reminded me that my uncle wouldn't want me crying, he'd want me to be strong! That's what made me happy was because you'd remind me to be strong when I didn't and it made me fight the feeling. The last time I held the picture of my uncle was the last time you told me that. I've tried to cry whenever I missed him or remembered that he wasn't going to be around for the holidays but I told myself that you said I needed to be strong.

I even remember when we split. I tried to cry and you wouldn't let me. You told me that if I cried you were gonna cry and you didn't want to see neither of us cry! But we both cried anyway, which wasn't for long because we talked and split mutally and then I packed my valuable belongings and went to my sisters. I have to admit the break up was hard, especially after I found out that you cheated on me! I never got pissed, I never got angry, and I didn't want revenge. I wanted answers, yet we both needed space and we respected the space that each other needed.

Then I found out things through people that you were leaving her. I was happy because it hurt me to see that she didn't treat you the way I treated you at all. When I realized that I wondered what was going in your head. Wondered whether you regretted the decision. Yet again I found myself saying the same thing, I was wanting answers.
We started talking again around Thanksgiving and when you texted me it was relieve. Yet I walked slowly on eggshells and I still do! I can't help but find myself forgiving you for what you did but not forgetting. Almost like God's testing me and right now I think I'm winning. Cheater's, liars, and stealers never win. I don't consider you a cheater because I never caught you cheating on me. I found out through family in which they told me you told them but yet I can't find myself to believe it because it doesn't seem like its the guy I know who did it to me.
I see you for who you are inside and not who you are outside. There is a nice, caring, loving guy in the inside and your fighting the feelings because your scared to admit that you feel the same way. At the current moment I am the same but that don't change my feelings. I'm trying to move on and I'm trying to forget the stuff that made me fall in love with you, but that don't change. Obvisiously they say first loves are hard to get over...BUT YOUR NOT MY FIRST. I still feel the connection and it don't want to break. That's what makes this so hard.
I had to get that off my chest yet I know there is still more.

A New Writing Idea

So last night I was working on falling asleep when all I could think about was how much I missed this guy. A guy who is the one I could tell anything to, one I would love to cuddle up to at night and all that juicy stuff. But anywho thats when I got the idea to do another writing thing [which might require another blog but I'm sure I can deal] that includes writing memorandiums of things that go on in my everday life. But that just something that came to mind.

Its not that I am not bored with writing because I already have two novels that are ready to be edited and published; one that I am working on that is a sequel to the two novels waiting to be published; a true story type deal on how to survive teenage years but I am sure that I can try to make all of it work for me to were I can get those published soon [if not I will find a way to get them out to everyone]. But when I am bored I love to write.

Well that's all for now.

Update for you all!

Hello Friends,
A lot has gone on since I last updated you so I will try and think of all what has happened and give you all one big update for now.

I went back to school for another semester in which the Winter 2008 semester start January 15 for me in which I was enrolled in two classes in which one was four credit hours and the other one was three credit hours.  Math 150 (4 Credit Hours{CH}) was getting hard for me so I withdrew from that class so that it would not ruin my GPA which currently at the moment is a 3.0 and it is better than my 2.6 GPA for High School.  English 152 (3 CH) is the class that I am still in until May 1st and that is going great.  I have only written 4 papers for it in which 3 I am turning in for my Final Portfolio.  In the English classes that I have taken and only have to take I have only had Final Portfolios and no exams.  So I am currently done with any and all papers until my next semester; which I hope is Fall 2008.

I hope that I have said this already but I am not quite sure I have said this already but Zac, my fiance, asked me to marry him about five to seven days after Christmas.  I did say yes and the date is set for sometime in July of 2010.  We are hoping that I am done with school then, if not I believe that I should be halfway done with my degree.

Also I moved out of my parents on April 1st.  Zac and I went to her on that day after I got out of school to explain to her how the apartment situation was going.  Zac and I were trying to talk to her like civilized adults.  Well, she did not want to have a civilized conversation and just went off on Zac.  I did not take that well and I started to cry.  I snapped back at her when she started to tell Zac she is not moving out and she is not quitting her $10/hr job just so she can live with you.  And she dropped out of her math class so she could spend more time with you.  She was just blaming so much on Zac that I blew up on her and told me to watch me walk the fuck out of the door.  That is exactly what I did was walk out the door.  I was devistated for hours.

But anywho, we are now in the apartment in Toledo Ohio and I am absolutely loving it here.  I am starting to get comfortable to go out and adventure on my own but before I get myself lost I at least want one of the guys to be with me when I do try and find my way around Toledo.  Toledo is such a big city that a girl like me just cannot adventure out on her own, especially at night.

Well, I think that I have updated for you guys well enough.  Actually I did miss something, I lost 40 pounds since I quit my job at McDonald's in July 2007.  I am even on my way of losing more since I have stopped eating three big meals a day and I only eat one big meal a day and snack lightly during the time between my last big meal and my next big meal.  Some days I am lucky to get a real nice snack in between meals.

Well, I guess that is it for now.
Later,
Mandabear

First Semester Complete

Well, hello all.  I would like to let you know that I am still currently working on typing the contract at the moment and haven't gotten to finish it.  I think that I will still be working on it but I have gotten around to getting business cards, notepads, and a stamp for the business.  I will update you more on the business on http://mdesigns.wordpress.com.

I just completed my first semester of college over at Monroe County Community College and I am really happy that I have almost a month to relax and focus on making money.  Of course you all know that I working full-time and that I do have a business as well.  But I passed my final exam for Math 090 and I really can't tell you what I got because I did not find out exactly what I got on my final exam.  All I know is I stayed in the class until he said I passed.

I worked almost a whole month on getting my research paper done for English 151 and then Wednesday after getting out of work, I worked on my portfolio project so that I could turn it in that night.  In which I did and I was out of my english class quicker then I was out of my math class.  But it was all good for as long as I was in that class.

Like I said I can focus on getting my business going and maybe Jason might help me.  Well, later.
Later.Peace.Love
Mandi

First Contract Was Signed

Friday, December 07, 2007 was a big day for MD Designs.  MD Designs had it's first contract signed by KGB Dark (Chris McGriff is the owner of the site).  Even though the contract was a rough draft, I was signed and as soon as it is typed, processed and copied I will find a way to get it downloaded into the computer so that you guys are able to preview a copy.

MD Designs just also wants to say that I will be having the blog posts for MD Designs on this blog as of today.  Like I said, I will get a copy posted soon.  Right now I am busy with working on getting ready for my exams for the Fall Semester.

Thank You,
Mandi Davis
Student at MCCC
Owner/Operator of MD Designs

Hey I'm So Tired

Wow has time flown. It seems just like only a few days ago I just started classes for the Fall Semester and I only have 4-5 more classes left and I'll be done for the Fall Semester at Monroe County Community College. I have registered for the Winter as I am super duper excited to get my Associates Degree in Website Design.

Just last night I finished typing out my four page research paper rough draft and now I found out that I am going to have to have another rough draft for Thursday which I think that I am not going to have that one because I want to relax tomorrow because I don't normally get a day to relax.

Well, I am doing a few things before I have to go to bed. Goodnight folks

OMG, I am so tired anymore!

So most of my friends know that I am working full-time and going to college part-time, they understand I am busy. Many if ask, when do you get any time to yourself? Sometimes I ask myself whether I can have time to just rest. Well today I realized that as I get older, I am going to want to do this and do that that all I have time to do is be BUSY.

Last night I had class. Math 090 which I had a test in and got an 85% on it. I did not even study for it. Most of the people I work with tell me, Man, your doing good for not studying. And yes I know that. Maybe I got this special thing that if I don't study, then I don't worry about whether I'll forget the thing that I need to remember for the test.

I also was scheduled for English 151 but I didn't go because I WANTED to go home and get to bed early, but I didn't get to because I was just 5 minutes from getting to were I live when I get to my phone. I was going to call one of my friends, but found out I had a voicemail. It was my mom asking me to go to my Uncle's house to pick up my grandma. So I decided I would turn around to go back to Monroe to get my grandma. I was hoping to leave shortly after my grandma got there but I decided to at least visit til about 8:20. I didn't leave til close to 9 o'clock.

When I got back into Dundee grandma wanted to go to Kroger so I was in Kroger til about 9:30 and I didn't get home til 10 so I wish I sorta went to English but not really.

So I am majorily tired and I think I am going to bed now. Sorry this is probably all confusing, as the title is OMG I am so tired anymore.