Sunday

Current mood:blessed
Current Obsession:my new camera and new (slightly used) TV!!!! (Santa came in early-have I told you my sister, brother in law and niece ROCK?)
Currently reading:not yet, but looking forward to reading Open by Andre Agassi Currently listening:Noche de Sexo by Wisin & Yandel (ft. Romeo) Upcoming events: MT's b-day, work,work,work, Wisin& Yandel's concert, vacation and New Year's in Culebra

Hope over Fear

When sis Tania told me she was doing the 4:00am-5:00am shift in her corporate pledge in Relay for Life 2009 my first instinct was telling her " you are crazy". After continuing our conversation I decided to buddy up with her. Recently cancer is striking close to home and since it really doesn't give us a break, I was not giving it a break either. After a quick visit to my friend's Joel small summer get together ( it was either that or tried to sleep) I met my sister at Parque Central. Let me tell you at 3:00am , it was happening. As many walked or jogged many cheered. ALL THE TIME.

We were supposed to relay Patty, Tania's co worker and friend. She was running and I bet that while doing that she was mourning her mother who passed away barely three weeks ago to the disease. We meet Tania's colleagues who were kind enough to let me crash their party. We started, people cheered. Every now and then you would see a person wearing a purple shirt.A survivor.The walk was nothing. Tania ran. Patty was still running. It was inspiring.

All different types of people and groups participated. An Army squad walked proudly in formation, in silence, with their respective flags. Firemen wearing their heavy uniforms. Kids and teenagers walking in socks due to blisters. Tania told me that Darth Vader's white soldier squad (a Star Wars club)was supposed to come soon, which I found hysterical. Our relay came and Patty joined him to run ( or did he join her?). We had breakfast. I was honored to be there. I crashed a party and it turned out to be the best thing I did over the weekend. I could have done more. Oh well, next year I have the best idea. So to those out there, this amateur blogger chooses hope over fear. Together we will end cancer

* Dedicated to Titi Nena and Priscilla

My 25 random things

I posted this on facebook, so why not here. Enjoy!

I sleep with my first pillow. Yes, it’s 31 years old. It’s gross and have rescued it twice from the trash ( mom tried to convince me that the pillow was the source of my nonexistent teenage acne-now, I think is the source of my anti aging regime)

I had mono at 3 years old. I French kissed everyone in pre-pre kinder and spread it to the whole class and Tania, my younger sister

I can’t sing save my life, I can’t draw and after running a quarter mile I’m breathless. Now give me high heels (the taller the better), champagne plus a good DJ and I will give you the endurance performance of a lifetime.

I have my mom’s body and my dad’s features. People say I look like my Mom and some people say my Dad. But what people don’t know is that my parents look alike. Freaky. I’m the only one of my three sisters that has brown eyes (although Tania, bless her heart, swears they are still beautiful).

My alter ego is a 16 inch waist burlesque stripper and performs in Forty Deuce with Dita Von Teese ( google her she is amazing)

My guilty pleasure is napping. Since I was little, Morpheus was on my side, rocking my cradle

I have the worst case of organizing procrastination. I love organized stuff. To me, Martha Steward is a semi good and but I wish I had the energy to organize ( Tania, my sister, can vouch for that-she divided our shared room many times with masking tape)

Contrary to popular belief, I don’t have a big J-lo style butt. I have HUGE hips which is totally different.

I had always wanted to have a scuba license, play a high level competitive tennis (I know) and speak French fluently. Somehow, procrastinating, socializing and nightlife keep getting in the way.

I’m an information junkie. News and useless info are my favorite vice (but it helps on trivia games and small talk-did you know that people photocopying their buttocks are the cause of 23% of all photocopier faults worldwide?; did you know that Prince Charles and Prince William never travel on the same airplane in case there is a crash?; did you know that the Pentagon in Arlington Virginia has twice as many bathrooms as is necessary.? When it was built in the 1940s the state of Virginia still had segregation laws requiring separate toilet facilities for blacks and whites)

I loathe spelling errors, not typos. I tend to judge people I have never met by email spelling horrors.

My friends use me as a memory storekeeper to remember who they dated and in which year

When my parents divorced they took my sister and me to a psychiatrist. His findings said that we were 10 years ahead on maturity level than the average kid. For some reason I find this totally untrue due to my choices in men.

I find appetizers more fun and happy than entrees. But I eat like a trucker so normally I eat both plus bread and dessert.

I find reality TV my heroin and Bravo is my dealer. My other fix is Rock of Love, nothing like white trash with amazing pole dancing skills and a washout rock star to make me feel special and hugged by Jesus.

My choices for professions as a kid were: butcher( I loved the smell of blood), fashion designer, forensic doctor, OB/GYN, and chef

My tween years were marked by: Menuditis, brownie production with Girls Just Wanna Have Fun previews at Mitin’s house, and window shopping at Camp Beverly Hills and Trafico @ Plaza Las Americas

I was born on July 1st, 1977, which means my birthday is the biggest holiday in Canada. I share my birthday with Pamela Anderson and Princess Diana (RIP). Can you see the similarities? Because I can

My first soft drink memory: Materva, a golden brown soda. It smells much like a champagne cola. Having a Cuban great uncle as a neighbor has its benefits.( that is were my love for Cubans started)

I live by Corretjer’s words: A human to be complete needs to plant a tree (I take very good care of my cow tongue’s plant), have a child (Carmela in the meantime) and write a book (does blogging count?)

I rather talk about sex than bowel movements, which is something puertorricans do while eating.

Geo, Jennifer and the whole office staff say I talk to loud. I swear I’m talking in a nice soothing range.

I can portray myself as loud with a strong character. In reality I suffer from delayed reaction which sucks at the time to engage in an intense discussion/opinion differences/fights. I’m a closeted softie and normally will freeze if somebody verbally attacks me ( it happened once and recently and was very affected by it)

I can’t believe the amount of selfish love I get from my 15 lbs daschund and I swear that she will talk any day now. I gravitate towards my two year old niece, Mia Sofia and will change my day’s routine to be near her and watch her laugh.

I’m proud to wear my heart on my sleeve and will try that everyday that passes by I will tell my love ones how much I love them. Everyday I thank God for the good, the bad and the ugly. I learn from my drama to appreciate my blessings.

Food for thought-Sisterhood

Today somebody made a comment about a picture of Geo and I in facebook that had to with the feelings we have for each other as friends and sisters . Lately, we have been a little emotional due to the fact that she's having a rough time (3 days left, dear) and both tears and tensions are in our sleeve. I felt sorry for the person who made the comment us; she has no girlfriends. It's funny because my relationship with women has been, most of the time, taken for granted. As part of a matriarch family, I was raised understanding and caring for the females around us. And as many of you know I have a magnificent, beautiful full blooded sister ( hi Tania!) and two incredible half sisters, but I found myself in awe by the love of my friends, my sisters by choice. And even when they ask for my help in their milestones ( I get to carry Alba's wedding dress in my car on Friday to the hotel- very important job) to me is in my natural instinct to just be there. So to my future partner in life, I am a flower of virtues but I come with an amazing package difficult to leave behind.

Food for thought: A sister is a gift to the heart, a friend to the spirit, a golden thread to the meaning of life. -- Isadora James

Hard Working Mamas who always look hot

Tania, my beautiful sis with her friend Stephanie @ their Christmas office party. Kudos for them for being excellent moms and looking fierce in the process.

*Tania's amazing makeup was done by Shallow

Happy b-day sweet Tania

So Tania's b-day is today and couldn't let this one go by. This is the PRican b-day song ( and no is not popular) and my family is known to sing this in our celebrations

//Que lindo esta el firmamento,

las aves cantando dulces melodias,

anuncian con alegria que ha llegado el día de tu cumpleaños,

nosotros te felicitamos y alegres venimos a cantarte a ti,

Rogando al Todopoderoso que pases un día próspero y felíz.

En este día glorioso, lleno de recuerdos gratos...

tu familia te desea felicidad en tus santo y

al cielo todos pedimos

llenos de sinceridad

que pases un feliz año de dicha y prosperidad..//

Te amo con locura, que la pases super hoy

Tu hermana de siempre

C

Race for the cure

Tania, my sister, completed her first 5k marathon. Her inspiration for running The Race for the Cure was our beloved aunt, Titi Nena who is dear to our hearts and is battling cancer. Tania sets a goal and she goes for it while juggling a wonderful toddler, an amazing husband and a promising career. In the process she inspired us all with her determination to do this. In the pic, Tania in pink shirt, ran with Patricia, her co-worker and dear friend. I'm making my public commitment to do it next year....

Happy b-day grandma!!

My "abuela" is 75 today!!! ... and she rocks!!!

Felicidades abuela

te amo

Pic: My abuela w tania, my sis, at her wedding day