<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?><?xml-stylesheet href="http://www.blogger.com/styles/atom.css" type="text/css"?><feed xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom' xmlns:openSearch='http://a9.com/-/spec/opensearchrss/1.0/' xmlns:georss='http://www.georss.org/georss' xmlns:gd='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005' xmlns:thr='http://purl.org/syndication/thread/1.0'><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4441627439263806025</id><updated>2011-07-07T19:25:40.631-04:00</updated><category term='future'/><category term='choice'/><category term='relationship'/><category term='karma'/><category term='experience'/><category term='parenting'/><category term='goals'/><category term='marriage'/><category term='beach boys'/><category term='universe'/><category term='life'/><category term='motivation'/><category term='sleep'/><category term='dreams'/><category term='off task'/><category term='insomnia'/><category term='aspirations'/><category term='plan'/><category term='daycare'/><category term='husband'/><category term='career'/><category term='blindfolded'/><category term='sentiments'/><category term='writing'/><category term='love'/><category term='contemplation'/><category term='pregnancy'/><title type='text'>Mae East Not West</title><subtitle type='html'></subtitle><link rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#feed' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://maeeastnotwest.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4441627439263806025/posts/default?max-results=100'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://maeeastnotwest.blogspot.com/'/><link rel='hub' href='http://pubsubhubbub.appspot.com/'/><author><name>Mae East</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/06710691037804880531</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><generator version='7.00' uri='http://www.blogger.com'>Blogger</generator><openSearch:totalResults>2</openSearch:totalResults><openSearch:startIndex>1</openSearch:startIndex><openSearch:itemsPerPage>100</openSearch:itemsPerPage><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4441627439263806025.post-7944169718487361906</id><published>2009-09-23T00:54:00.003-04:00</published><updated>2009-09-23T01:21:00.583-04:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='goals'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='contemplation'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='husband'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='pregnancy'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='parenting'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='sleep'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='life'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='off task'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='experience'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='beach boys'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='career'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='marriage'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='plan'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='aspirations'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='choice'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='daycare'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='blindfolded'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='future'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='love'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='relationship'/><title type='text'>Sleepless</title><content type='html'>Once, not so long ago, I was able to fall asleep at the drop of a dime. Simply and slightly resting any part of my body from the shoulders up would result in complete REM. Not to the point that I needed to see a doctor, because it's just hereditary, it's what we do. These days my mind is so active, it's running as if its sole purpose is to act as a "to do" list. I have no thoughts of anything but what needs to be done next, which is welcoming in the respect that much needs to be done and I haven't forgotten anything crucial for sometime, but its certainly draining.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;So what needs my attention, I ask? Life begs an answer of what will I do with my future. With a laundry list of goals and aspirations, I cannot seem to pinpoint the "right" road to take. Even if I just blindfolded myself and pointed to a path, would it coincide with the rest of my life's plans? I want to be a mother and not a hurried and career-driven wife in a way that it will deplete my marriage love.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Well, at least we're heading in a direction now. Let's apply for some jobs, you say. &lt;span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error"&gt;Hmm&lt;/span&gt;...5-10, 8-14 years experience needed? How can I get a shot at anything when my education, experience and goal-oriented ways can't match the expertise "required", not "preferred" in today's job market.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Was life always this complex? I find that in so many aspects I am more than thrilled and happy with my life, but when it comes to a career, the reality of what it is to be a 20-something in today's society is &lt;span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-corrected"&gt;suffocating&lt;/span&gt; and scary. I'd simply like to lead a successful and admirable life. I'd like to earn some sort of monetary satisfaction from it, but I don't need glory. I am certainly not a feminist, because the idea that my husband can provide for us and I can raise our children has always been an ideal way of thinking for me. I would like to contribute and feel like I earned something, but I refuse to work enough to cover the cost of a stranger raising my children.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;And you can say, I'm getting quite ahead of myself, since I don't yet have children, but wouldn't I be foolish if I didn't prepare for that? My body is preparing and as a couple we are excited and ready for the chance to be parents. Wouldn't I be a fool to ignore the fact that some planning is in order?&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I think next time I write, maybe I can delve into whether or not its fair to bring a child into our uncertain world. After having this discussion with my father this week, there is a lot to say.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Maybe my mind is &lt;span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-corrected"&gt;off task&lt;/span&gt; now and then, &lt;span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-corrected"&gt;after all&lt;/span&gt;. "Wouldn't it be nice..."&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4441627439263806025-7944169718487361906?l=maeeastnotwest.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://maeeastnotwest.blogspot.com/feeds/7944169718487361906/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://maeeastnotwest.blogspot.com/2009/09/sleepless.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4441627439263806025/posts/default/7944169718487361906'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4441627439263806025/posts/default/7944169718487361906'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://maeeastnotwest.blogspot.com/2009/09/sleepless.html' title='Sleepless'/><author><name>Mae East</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/06710691037804880531</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4441627439263806025.post-8272171235269099976</id><published>2009-08-11T02:15:00.000-04:00</published><updated>2009-08-11T02:17:21.222-04:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='dreams'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='plan'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='karma'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='goals'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='insomnia'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='sentiments'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='universe'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='life'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='motivation'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='writing'/><title type='text'>Introduction</title><content type='html'>So today is the day.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;As I've contemplated in my mind for many months, I've finally begun to write. So in a way, today is the first day of what I hope to be a shiny and hopeful adventure towards a writing career. Who will read this? I can't say that anyone necessarily will, but at least I'm up on my feet again. I most definately should be in bed, preparing for a job for which I am too qualified and get paid too little for. But here I am, wide awake at 1:30Am (highly unusual) and feeling the urge to let my fingers do the talking.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;So here I am. Mid-20's. Unsure what life holds, like pretty much everyone in the world today. I can't say my parents are anymore prepared for the furture than I am, which is both frightening and satisfying in some sort of way. Life can't be planned and I'm born from fervent planners, which has only exemplified the fact that life has a mind of it's own. And I don't mention this in a negative way...but in a real hopeful sense. It allows me the opportunity to live life instead of being in a state of constant worry. "What will be, will be"..."the best is yet to come". Can you believe it? These cheesy phrases coined for the purpose of talking a friend off the edge of a bridge are actually true! No matter how hard we try, the universe has their own plans for us. The way I see it, is that holding karma close to my chest is a benefit and keeping positivity in my mind will lead to some ultimate gratification. It's gotten me this far and I cannot complain.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;A good start...I think I will come back tomorrow.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Goodnight world.&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4441627439263806025-8272171235269099976?l=maeeastnotwest.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://maeeastnotwest.blogspot.com/feeds/8272171235269099976/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://maeeastnotwest.blogspot.com/2009/08/introduction.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4441627439263806025/posts/default/8272171235269099976'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4441627439263806025/posts/default/8272171235269099976'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://maeeastnotwest.blogspot.com/2009/08/introduction.html' title='Introduction'/><author><name>Mae East</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/06710691037804880531</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry></feed>
