San Diego

We had a great time in San Diego. The weather was perfect, blue skies, temperature in the high 60's...

We stayed at the Holiday Inn, we thought it was the one across the Star of Inida, but it was the one in Bayside, a little farther north, in Point Loma. Our room was in the 4th floor overlooking the harbor, beautiful.

We drove to the Star of India, and Grey showed us where the show would take place, everybody was super friendly and nice, we got the best seats in the house in my opinion! as we were early, M and I went to have a quick dinner at Anthony's, clam chowder and calamari, yum!

The show started at 7:30, it was great, lots of people, lots of fun and great music. Grey introduced us to the musicians, including Steve Poltz, and Barbara Nesbitt. I really enjoy the way Han plays djembe - I think that's the name- he is one of the best players around, I love the sound of it and the way he plays them, hard on the hands~! Flannery sang and told stories about his life and about baseball, he's funny. His brother flew from Kentucky to play and sing with him. Grey read an awesome poem she wrote about the Star if India.

It was a fun night, before playing the last song, Flannery wished me a happy birthday!

The night ended about 11:30. M and I went back to the hotel and had a good night sleep.

Next day we went to Julian, it was about an hour drive inland from San Diego, once we got to the mountains it cooled off a little and there was snow on the ground. After driving on a twisty road, we arrived in Julian, which is a quaint historic gold mining town well known for its apple orchards and scrumptious apple pie. We drove around and around and couldn't find any parking! luckily in our last drive thru we found a parking place right in front of the Apple Pie Co. we went in and had a wonderful slice of warm apple pie. Shortly after walking around a few shops, we made our way back to San Diego. In the evening we went to Grey's house and took her out to dinner, she gave me a box of excellent English soaps that I really enjoyed during my visit to the Morongo Casino, she called the Casino and found out the name of the soaps and ordered them online, very thoughtful! Han couldn't go as he had band practice. We went to Ponce's Mexican restaurant, just a few blocks down from her house. The food was great, flautas for Grey and me, enchiladas for M. We had flans for dessert, when I got mine, M presented me with a gorgeous square cut diamond ring!!!!!! :)

After dinner we stayed in the house for a while, watching Han's band rehearse, it was very cool and we enjoyed it.

On Sunday, M and I drove around Point Loma and went up to the light house. Has a wonderful view of San Diego, The Pacific and the mountains. Then we left back home, stopping at Chevy's in Del Mar for lunch.

All in all it was a very nice, long weekend. I enjoyed it very much.

It's coming...

My birthday. I refuse to get older. My mother used to say.."I am the same person with the same thoughts and dreams as when I was 20, is only the body that tends to get older, but if you are lucky, the mind stays as young as you want it." I happen to agree with it.
I think working with young children keeps me feeling younger, it takes some energy coping with 20 5 year old kids day after day! I also keep a younger mind by keeping up with music and news on the Internet (what a great invention)!
Most people in my school think I don't act my age. I am pretty goofy and -they say- I liven up stuffy staff meetings .
This weekend we are going to San Diego to see a show with Flan and friends, of course Han is playing, and he graciously invited us to the Star of India where the show takes place. We are staying in a hotel right across from it. It should be fun.

December posting finally

I can't believe I had not posted since November 24.
Yesterday was our school's Christmas party. It was at the house of one of the first grade teachers. I went with M, and we had a very nice time. We also did a white elephant exchange, and they were all so bad nobody wanted to exchange with anybody else! I think I ended up with the best one. A teak condiment set.
Only 7 more school days until Christmas vacation. I am really looking forward to it!!!!

2 Little things that made me happy today

- Going to the Library and finding not one but 3 new books I have wanted to read by authors I like :)
- Seeing a gorgeous bright rainbow on my way to work

Dolce far niente

Just one more day to go before my vacation is over! next week is all about report cards and testing...poor lil kindergartners!
I have been doing absolutely nothing these days, just PSPing, talking to online friends, reading, and soaking in the Jacuzzi. Yesterday Grey was here and we had a nice time and a nice dinner. Thanksgiving it was just M and I, nice and quiet :)
I think I needed the rest!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!!

Happy Birthday Grey!

I'll take a little break from writing about my past jobs ,although I have to admit is fun to remember things that have lain forgotten in a small corner of my mind, and now are out in the open again.
Today is my youngest daughter's birthday. Time does go by fast. She was a pretty and good baby, she started walking at 9 months of age, she loved her older sister and they played together well, in spite of the 5 year difference. and I am so happy they are still close.
I am very proud of you and all you have accomplished . I love you :)

Three 1 night stands

No no, is not what you think!!!!

This is just about 3 paying jobs that literally only lasted one night each. They were fun and different and a little wild.

#1 - My best friend in high school had a brother, a boyfriend, and a next door neighbor that started a "rock" band. We all got together on Sundays to party, and one thing led to another and for good or bad, I started singing with them, my repertory was rather limited: 2 songs, 15 años and Tutti Frutti. We sang at friend's parties mostly, and even recorded one of the songs. One day, Enrique told me we had been hired in a club downtown to perform. . My curfew was 10PM. So I had to sneak our of my house and meet the boys by the subway. We performed for just an hour and when I got home, my father was waiting up and I got big time punishment. Plus it also marked the end of my budding singing career.

#2 My art teacher in high school, recommend me for a job with an artist friend of his. I was to pose for a portrait. I had to pose looking out of a window, without moving, for about 4 hours, with very little breaks, it was agonizing for me as it's hard for me to be still for that long. Plus the artist was grouchy and grumpy. The portrait was part of an art exhibition, and it was pictured in the newspaper "La Vanguardia". Again I wish I had kept a copy of it.

#3 A pretty neighbor friend of mine once in a while worked as an extra movies, she was also a model. One day she asked me if I wanted to be an extra in a movie that was being filmed in Montjuich, it was the story of a famous Spanish folk singer of the 18th century. I was in a ballroom scene. I wore a long dress and had long gloves and a fan. I never saw the movie, but my friend said she couldn't see me anyway lol.

More jobs

The best thing about this job was the location, just a few blocks from my school and right across from one of the most iconic buildings in Barcelona, my office, yes I had one, in the 3rd floor had a window overlooking "La Pedrera" .

My job was translating titles of American and English songs, into Spanish. And sometimes, to write a little blurb in the back cover of the record (45's) telling about the song, or writing the lyrics in Spanish. It was fun, unfortunately my English was not as good as I said it was, so I had to rely a lot on a dictionary. Fortunately for me, nobody in that record company knew any English!

It was an easy job, a little boring because there was not so much to do, but I got a lot of free 45's and had some "status" among my friends for having the latest music.

I can't remember exactly why or when I quit that job...maybe when somebody in the office finally learned English ;)

Thinking Back..Job #2

Job #2
I was 15-16 years old, I found thru an ad in the newspaper a job I could do part time, while going to school. It was close to my home, a fairly long walk, but in a very nice area. A brand new publicity agency called BRINDIS, they needed a gofer: part receptionist, part secretary, part model stand in. It was a lot of fun, especially the part where they had me go buy props to use in magazine or newspaper ads. I didn’t care much for the secretary part. The best was when they asked me to stand in for the models, I would pose as they told me and would hold something to test for color and shadows, and then the “real” model would take over.
One time, they were advertising oranges from Spain. I was holding the orange, and they deemed my hand holding it good enough for the final shot. I didn’t get paid extra, but I bought several magazines where the ad (and my hand) appeared. Wish I had kept some…
When they wanted me to work for them full time, I had to regretfully quit. My school came first.

Thinking back....Jobs I had :)

Reading about Red and Grey ‘s thoughts about what would they like to be when they grew up, what their dreams were and are…I felt compelled to dig into my memory box and reminisce about the jobs I’ve had thru my life, so far. I think I enjoyed most of them, they were eclectic, but they were fun. I will start from the beginning.
First time I got paid for something I did, was not a job per se, but a way to help the household to make some extra money, all the family was involved, mama, yaya, sister, and at odd times, papa. We painted little lead (yes lead)! soldiers. Hundreds and hundreds of them, we painted faces, hair, army outfit, boots, they were little toy soldiers, it was boring but relaxing. The worst part was taking them to the factory that hired us. We had to haul the heavy boxes, walk 5 blocks to the streetcar, and take them to the factory where we got paid a ridiculous little amount of money, and took new boxes back to paint at home. One day we got a box of little brushes and combs sets for dolls, I think that’s what made my sister first think about becoming a hair stylist. We painted dainty little flowers and leaves, it was so much nicer than the little toy soldiers. This adventure didn’t last too long, probably a couple of months. It was not worth our time or effort. But it made for some togetherness, and I felt like I was helping.

Reflection

Writing about the 7 things...was not as easy as I thought it would be. Had to give it some deep thought. And now, rereading it, I can see I left some important things, such as...I am big procrastinator, which may be linked to my Spanish "mañana" attitude. I created this blog about a month ago and I am now just posting, see what I mean?

By the way, thanks girls for talking me into it, is fun!

7 things....in no particular order

7 things I plan to do before I die:

1. Go back to Barcelona
2. See T graduate from college (match)!
3. Have a graphics website that would generate income
4. Win the lottery
5. Have lots of fun
6. Bring my sisters together
7. Hold my great grand kid :)


7 Things I can do:

1. Spend hours in the computer
2. read for enjoyment
3. teach little children
4. have fun on my own
5. visit Sweden
6. love my family & friends
7. appreciate what I have

7 Things I can’t do:

1. Not cry when upset, frustrated or angry (match)!
2. be proficient at any sport
3. keep my mouth shut
4. Stick to a diet
5. Go back in time
6. Making simple decisions
7. Meet my online friends

7 Things that attract me to people

1. sense of humor
2. intelligence
3. creativity
4. optimism
5. lack of pretension
6. loyalty
7. acceptance of who I am. The good and the bad.


7 Things I say the most

1. goofy
2. sweetie
3. shit
4. hola
5. damn
6. really?
7. hey

7 Celebrity crushes

1. Trent Reznor
2. Eminem
3. James Dean
4. Young Elvis
5. Ben Affleck
6. Jude Law
7. Beckham