Still alive. I thought of my mom today at the post office. I went to mail a package to my niece and as I went up the steps of the main downtown post office, I couldn't help but think of my mom, like I always do when I go there. I don't go very often, which is probably why I think of her each time.
We used to go to the post office to mail her Avon order and after she mailed her envelope we would play hide and seek around the tall shrubs. The shrubs are all cut short and close to the ground now, but when I was a little girl they were taller and they seemed even taller because I was so little.
I remember going around them and looking for the eagle head at the center. I knew it was an eagle head and I can totally see it now but back then it seemed like it was so hard to make out. My mother and I would look at it for a while and then she'd remind me that it was late and we had to go home. I miss her.
My kids are playing. Seth is "pretending" to be a baby. Imagine that! A baby pretending to be a baby!
Good night.
Tuesday, February 21, 2006
Friday, February 17, 2006
Hello From NYC
Hola! I have had two crazy days so far! I can actually go back to Wednesday because I never wrote about that. After I planned to write for those 2 days wouldn't you know that something had to happen? Remember the cracked molar? It started hurting me so I went to the dentist on Wednesday. They couldn't see me til 11:30 and I ended up spending 3 hours there! What a waste of the day because by the time I got home it was late since I had to pick up Miranda and take her to ballet. What a bummer!
Then Thursday we left for NY. I was so exhausted in the morning but I got to sleep really well on the flight. I got extra time to sleep because we left late and we couldn't land in Chicago. We were connecting flights via Chicago and the bad weather ended up ruining our day. We got stuck in Chicago for SIX hours. Horrible day! We didn't get to NY until 9:30 at night.
Then today in NYC we got up and we had to go listen to this Hilton Club presentation for 1.5 hours because that's why we got this really good deal on our room. Surprise! It was really for 3 hours and another day practically wasted on that instead of sightseeing. (On a side note the Hilton Club is a really cool deal if you're interested in something like a time share with the Hilton Hotels but not restricted like a time share.)
We still had a great time afterwards having lunch with my cousin Cindy at Josie's, this really good organic restaurant. After that we did sightseeing at Grand Central Station and we shopped at Kenneth Cole. I got 2 pairs of shoes for $35 and $30 and Rey got a pair for $75!! Sweet deal!
Later tonight I saw my first Broadway show- Hairspray! It was awesome!! I would have loved to see The Color Purple, but #1 it was sold out and #2 the tickets are over $100! Hairspray was good enough. Actually it was even better than I expected. Great choice! Rey went to the ESPN Zone with my friend's husband and he had a great time there too.
SO it's late late Friday night and tomorrow is Saturday. We check out in the a.m. and we are going to drive to Patterson, NY. After that day trip and nice drive we're spending the night with my girlfriend and her husband for our last night in the Big Apple. Time is flying!
Then Thursday we left for NY. I was so exhausted in the morning but I got to sleep really well on the flight. I got extra time to sleep because we left late and we couldn't land in Chicago. We were connecting flights via Chicago and the bad weather ended up ruining our day. We got stuck in Chicago for SIX hours. Horrible day! We didn't get to NY until 9:30 at night.
Then today in NYC we got up and we had to go listen to this Hilton Club presentation for 1.5 hours because that's why we got this really good deal on our room. Surprise! It was really for 3 hours and another day practically wasted on that instead of sightseeing. (On a side note the Hilton Club is a really cool deal if you're interested in something like a time share with the Hilton Hotels but not restricted like a time share.)
We still had a great time afterwards having lunch with my cousin Cindy at Josie's, this really good organic restaurant. After that we did sightseeing at Grand Central Station and we shopped at Kenneth Cole. I got 2 pairs of shoes for $35 and $30 and Rey got a pair for $75!! Sweet deal!
Later tonight I saw my first Broadway show- Hairspray! It was awesome!! I would have loved to see The Color Purple, but #1 it was sold out and #2 the tickets are over $100! Hairspray was good enough. Actually it was even better than I expected. Great choice! Rey went to the ESPN Zone with my friend's husband and he had a great time there too.
SO it's late late Friday night and tomorrow is Saturday. We check out in the a.m. and we are going to drive to Patterson, NY. After that day trip and nice drive we're spending the night with my girlfriend and her husband for our last night in the Big Apple. Time is flying!
Thursday, February 16, 2006
Tired Nauseated
Have u ever been so tired that u feel nauseated? We went to bed so late and woke up so early that I feel sick. Yesterday was a complete waste of a writing and vacation day. I ended up spending the whole day at the dentist. I had to have a filling. I was so bummed and reminded of John Lennon's famous words. I'm at the airport right now.
Tuesday, February 14, 2006
Stop and Smell the Azaleas
I realized something today. I have three beautiful azalea bushes around my house and I know that they're blooming but I haven't really stopped and admired them. Today after my walk I stopped and looked at them and decided to cut a bouquet from the dark pink ones. Beautiful! It reminded me of that saying that get so busy we don't stop and smell the roses. Is it roses?
Houston is known for it's beautiful azaleas. This is a photo of the azaleas from the River Oaks Garden Club. You can see more at http://www.riveroaksgardenclub.org/AzaleaTrail.cfm
I'm off to pick up the kids from the sitter. On that note, I've received positive comments about the picture with the kids and I said I'd post another one from that same day that I love.
Writing Day 1
I've been upstairs in my room since 12:30 Central time and it's now almost 4! I've been working on one of my more challenging chapters. Good progress and a good start to a week of writing!
Weird thing! Here I am 2 days from leaving and I was chewing gum of all things and I felt something hard in my gum. It was a piece of one of my molars! Isn't that crazy! Rey confirmed it when he came home. He looked in my mouth and said my back molar looks chipped!
Now I have to go to the dentist tomorrow before I leave. Why do things like that always happen to me?
So tomorrow I need to write in the morning, then go to the dentist, and come back to write some more. I want to pick up Miranda at 4 to take her to her ballet class. I need to pay and check in about her progress. I never go since she goes at 4:30 and I'm at work then.
I love writing in my "Virginia Woolf" room. I've written about my attic room before. I love being surrounded by all my books, although they aren't in alphabetical order by author any more. I used to have them all in order until Miranda decided it would be fun to play with them. Kids happened to them.
I love how people with no kids have no concept of that. They'll say things like, "Why do you let her do that?" UH! Because kids do things when you aren't even watching. Can you imagine if you could control kids from doing everything you didn't want them to do?
Anway, I digress! I love my room with my Maya Angelou quotes! (Thanks Liz!) I can come up here and pretend I live in another house.
Enough writing! I'm going walking at Memorial Park. I need to go put on my tennis shoes.
Weird thing! Here I am 2 days from leaving and I was chewing gum of all things and I felt something hard in my gum. It was a piece of one of my molars! Isn't that crazy! Rey confirmed it when he came home. He looked in my mouth and said my back molar looks chipped!
Now I have to go to the dentist tomorrow before I leave. Why do things like that always happen to me?
So tomorrow I need to write in the morning, then go to the dentist, and come back to write some more. I want to pick up Miranda at 4 to take her to her ballet class. I need to pay and check in about her progress. I never go since she goes at 4:30 and I'm at work then.
I love writing in my "Virginia Woolf" room. I've written about my attic room before. I love being surrounded by all my books, although they aren't in alphabetical order by author any more. I used to have them all in order until Miranda decided it would be fun to play with them. Kids happened to them.
I love how people with no kids have no concept of that. They'll say things like, "Why do you let her do that?" UH! Because kids do things when you aren't even watching. Can you imagine if you could control kids from doing everything you didn't want them to do?
Anway, I digress! I love my room with my Maya Angelou quotes! (Thanks Liz!) I can come up here and pretend I live in another house.
Enough writing! I'm going walking at Memorial Park. I need to go put on my tennis shoes.
Monday, February 13, 2006
Me in NYC in October
Sunday, February 12, 2006
Sad Story
I feel bad for not mentioning this before. I've been going on about my outings and my exhibit y no se que mas, and I didn't mention that I had another one of those experiences when I stop and realize how short life can be.
Friday at work a co-worker asked me if I knew another guy who works across the hall. I answered that of course I do because this guy does all the print bids and I used to work with him quite often when I was a direct marketing rep and special sections coordinator. Anyway, I asked what about him and my co-worker says he died.
I don't know why, but right at that moment when he asked me if I knew this guy I had a feeling that's what he was going to say next. It was eerie. I was shocked because I see this guy almost every day when I walk into the building. When I walk in he worked in an office that's to the left hand side and when the door is open his back is to the door. I also see him whenever I poke my head into the office from the other side to say hello to my friend. He was kind of quiet and never really made conversation but I knew him because I've worked with him before and I also know his wife. She went to high school with me.
A couple of years ago when I was organizing our 15 year reunion he asked me if I went to Waltrip and I said yes then he told me his wife did too. She was looking at an e-mail from me and he saw my name and wondered if I was the same person. It was a weird coincidence.
I still don't know how he died but apparently it was sudden. He didn't show up at work that morning and his wife called to say he passed away. That's all. No explanation. They may know more on Monday.
What's weird is this. You see someone every day and just like that they are gone. That can happen to any one of us. I know that but every time it happens again it just reminds me of my mortality.
Friday at work a co-worker asked me if I knew another guy who works across the hall. I answered that of course I do because this guy does all the print bids and I used to work with him quite often when I was a direct marketing rep and special sections coordinator. Anyway, I asked what about him and my co-worker says he died.
I don't know why, but right at that moment when he asked me if I knew this guy I had a feeling that's what he was going to say next. It was eerie. I was shocked because I see this guy almost every day when I walk into the building. When I walk in he worked in an office that's to the left hand side and when the door is open his back is to the door. I also see him whenever I poke my head into the office from the other side to say hello to my friend. He was kind of quiet and never really made conversation but I knew him because I've worked with him before and I also know his wife. She went to high school with me.
A couple of years ago when I was organizing our 15 year reunion he asked me if I went to Waltrip and I said yes then he told me his wife did too. She was looking at an e-mail from me and he saw my name and wondered if I was the same person. It was a weird coincidence.
I still don't know how he died but apparently it was sudden. He didn't show up at work that morning and his wife called to say he passed away. That's all. No explanation. They may know more on Monday.
What's weird is this. You see someone every day and just like that they are gone. That can happen to any one of us. I know that but every time it happens again it just reminds me of my mortality.
Basquiat
We went to see the Basquiat exhibit this morning with our friends who tried to go with us last night. I liked it. Actually Sonia and I both liked it and our husbands both didn't. We all had our different opinions about his art. I could appreciate it, although I didn't see him as a classical artist. Of course he's not because it's modern art but even in modern art you sometimes see the classical art underneath. This was a different type of art.
It was the art of an activist who was highly intelligent and instead of writing his thought he showed them to us in art. I've never seen an artist use so many words in their art too. I'm sure there are others but I personally haven't seen too many use words the way Basquiat does. He was a writer that expressed it in drawings, symbolism, words, is how I summed it up. The other three didn't really agree with me but that's my interpretation at least.
That's the beautiful thing about art. We can interpret it in so many different ways. The sad thing about an artist dying is that you read all these different interpretations of his various portraits and you can't help but wonder if that's what they artist really meant to say. He's not around to tell us if that's what he meant.
One of my favorite painting/drawings (because I can't remember which one it is) is by Salvador Dali in the Chicago Art Institute. Alongside the painting is a framed letter from the artist himself explaining the symbolism in his art. I think that is really cool when an artist does that and isn’t so full of himself that he wouldn’t want for us to understand him. I thought of that letter when I was looking at Basquiat’s exhibit and I often wish all artists did the same thing.
It was the art of an activist who was highly intelligent and instead of writing his thought he showed them to us in art. I've never seen an artist use so many words in their art too. I'm sure there are others but I personally haven't seen too many use words the way Basquiat does. He was a writer that expressed it in drawings, symbolism, words, is how I summed it up. The other three didn't really agree with me but that's my interpretation at least.
That's the beautiful thing about art. We can interpret it in so many different ways. The sad thing about an artist dying is that you read all these different interpretations of his various portraits and you can't help but wonder if that's what they artist really meant to say. He's not around to tell us if that's what he meant.
One of my favorite painting/drawings (because I can't remember which one it is) is by Salvador Dali in the Chicago Art Institute. Alongside the painting is a framed letter from the artist himself explaining the symbolism in his art. I think that is really cool when an artist does that and isn’t so full of himself that he wouldn’t want for us to understand him. I thought of that letter when I was looking at Basquiat’s exhibit and I often wish all artists did the same thing.
Another Year Older
I turned 36 today. I'm another year closer to 40! It's pretty weird to be this age. We went out with some friends today. Not because it was my birthday because I don't celebrate but because we were planning it any way and the event happened to be today. HOWEVER, when we got to the Museum of Fine Arts there was a super long line around the museum. The parking garage was also full and there was a long line inside to pay for parking. We wanted to go to the Starbucks hosted event, "Beats of Basquiat." It was supposed to be really cool with music while we looked at the art by Basquiat. Actually, the music was Grand Master Flash so that was why there were so many people there.
Tomorrow is the last day of the exhibit itself so we want to be there when the museum opens to see it.
Instead we went and had dinner. I tried to be good and order soup. Time to read Miranda a story! Good night!
Tomorrow is the last day of the exhibit itself so we want to be there when the museum opens to see it.
Instead we went and had dinner. I tried to be good and order soup. Time to read Miranda a story! Good night!
Saturday, February 11, 2006
My Space
Rey and I started pages on My Space but I've had too many visitors come through here to change blog addresses. If you want to check out what I've done so far the URL is http://www.myspace.com/shoegirlcorner2 . Good Night!
Friday, February 10, 2006
Writing Vacation
I was on vacation next week to go to NYC Thursday and after my reading I decided to take Monday-Wednesday off too to work on finishing my book. I'll take the kids to the sitter as if I'm going to the office and I'll come home to my upstairs room to write all day. On Monday that will be easy because I'm going in for the afternoon to a meeting, so I have to take advantage of the time. I was taking the whole day off but I'm very involved in this website project that I want to go to this meeting.
It's early but I still need to pack the kids' bags because I didn't last night. You all have a great day or night!
It's early but I still need to pack the kids' bags because I didn't last night. You all have a great day or night!
Sunday, February 05, 2006
My Reading
I had my reading yesterday and it was a success. I had quite a lot of people show up. Most of them were my friends or family, but I was especially thrilled to see a group of about five little girls from the Houston Institute for Culture Camp Dos Cabezas. They were around 11 or 12 years old and they seemed so interested in the story.
I spoke to them afterwards and two were especially interested. One of them told me the story reminded her of her aunt and uncle. I gave another one the copy I had of the portion that's published on the website. I read a page from that part first to give them a sense of what the story was about because I read the continuation of it last night. I only read one page though and she wanted to read the rest of that part so I gave it to her and she was so cute and asked me to sign it. Awww!!!
If what I can do is touch the lives of children like that and show them a Latina woman who writes and then encourages them to write too, then it's all worth it. Like Rey said this morning, when we were lying in bed talking before the kids woke up, those girls thought it was great and that's all that counts. I agree!
What I like about doing readings is that it pushes me to finish because then people ask me about it and encourage me to finish. So do that. Encourage me along by asking me how it's going. I only have 2 chapters to finish and even those 2 are already started. I just need to finish them!!
The other writer who read with me last night was awesome. Rose Mary Salum is a true published writer! Check out her bio at www.houstonculture.org/forums. She is the publisher and editor a literary magazine called Literal. www.literalmagazine.com. Very cool lady. I can't wait to get to know her better.
I spoke to them afterwards and two were especially interested. One of them told me the story reminded her of her aunt and uncle. I gave another one the copy I had of the portion that's published on the website. I read a page from that part first to give them a sense of what the story was about because I read the continuation of it last night. I only read one page though and she wanted to read the rest of that part so I gave it to her and she was so cute and asked me to sign it. Awww!!!
If what I can do is touch the lives of children like that and show them a Latina woman who writes and then encourages them to write too, then it's all worth it. Like Rey said this morning, when we were lying in bed talking before the kids woke up, those girls thought it was great and that's all that counts. I agree!
What I like about doing readings is that it pushes me to finish because then people ask me about it and encourage me to finish. So do that. Encourage me along by asking me how it's going. I only have 2 chapters to finish and even those 2 are already started. I just need to finish them!!
The other writer who read with me last night was awesome. Rose Mary Salum is a true published writer! Check out her bio at www.houstonculture.org/forums. She is the publisher and editor a literary magazine called Literal. www.literalmagazine.com. Very cool lady. I can't wait to get to know her better.
Friday, February 03, 2006
My Reading is Tomorrow
Here I am working from home this morning because my sitter has some personal stuff she had to do. I'm going into work a little later.
My reading is tomorrow and I don't feel ready. Maybe we never really feel ready. I don't know. I'm just a little apprehensive this time around. Yikes!
I've decided to take some extra days off the week I'm going to NYC so that I can finish this book. I know that all I need to do is sit down and give it some extra individual attention and it will be finished but that's even hard with work, kids, meetings, and being a wife.
So those 3 days I'm taking the kids to the sitter's as if I'm going to work and I'm going to sit down and concentrate on finishing it up. Once my first draft is written I will feel so much better and I can go back and start on the editing.
Hope all is well with all of you. Do my meme from Wednesday!
My reading is tomorrow and I don't feel ready. Maybe we never really feel ready. I don't know. I'm just a little apprehensive this time around. Yikes!
I've decided to take some extra days off the week I'm going to NYC so that I can finish this book. I know that all I need to do is sit down and give it some extra individual attention and it will be finished but that's even hard with work, kids, meetings, and being a wife.
So those 3 days I'm taking the kids to the sitter's as if I'm going to work and I'm going to sit down and concentrate on finishing it up. Once my first draft is written I will feel so much better and I can go back and start on the editing.
Hope all is well with all of you. Do my meme from Wednesday!
Wednesday, February 01, 2006
Meme for Fun
I didn’t get tagged with this meme. I’m just being lame and I’m borrowing it from Gwen because I like it so much. I’m also not going to tag anybody because, well I don’t really know too many people to tag. OK OK I do know some people so I’ll tag them. NO, you're all tagged. Either reply in the comments field OR send me a separate e-mail to my shoegirl yahoo account on my profile page. Come on! Be fun!
Four Jobs I've Had in My Life:
1. Proofreader
2. Sold advertising in college for The Daily Cougar
3. PR Assistant for Six Flags Astroworld (part time gig)
4. And I’ve had at least 5 positions within the Chronicle
Four Movies I Could Watch Over and Over:
1. The Color Purple
2. You’ve Got Mail
3. French Kiss
4. When Harry Met Sally
I Have Lived in:
1. Houston, Texas
2. St. Petersburg, FL (one summer)
Four TV Shows I Love to Watch:
1. Oprah (only show I watch every day because I really don’t watch TV)
2. Sex in the City
3. Friends (when I have time)
4. Seinfeld (when I remember to watch it or have time)
Places I Have Been on Vacation:
1. Mexico- several places
2. New York
3. Italy
4. Spain
5. France
6. Switzerland
7. Germany
8. California (LA, Fresno)
9. Grand Canyon
10. Las Vegas (as a kid so it doesn’t really count)
11. Chicago
12. Miami (conference once and passing through another)
13. Orlando, FL
14. Boston
Four Websites I Visit Daily:
1. Alisa Valdes Rodriguez’s blog
2. Gwen’s Blog
3. chron.com
4. Kyra Davis’ blog
There are others I visit but I visit these 4 every day.
Favorite Foods:
1. Vietnamese
2. Thai
3. Sushi
4. Mexican- Various
5. Calamari
6. Penne Pasta and anything
7. Greek Salad
8. Middle Eastern food
Four Places I would rather be:
1. On a cruise with no children this time (ha!)
2. In NYC (in 2 weeks!)
3. In a plaza in Spain sipping sangria
4. In a wonderful art museum any where!
Four People I Am Tagging With This Meme:
1. Rey
2. Rosy
3. Hannah
4. Becky
Four Jobs I've Had in My Life:
1. Proofreader
2. Sold advertising in college for The Daily Cougar
3. PR Assistant for Six Flags Astroworld (part time gig)
4. And I’ve had at least 5 positions within the Chronicle
Four Movies I Could Watch Over and Over:
1. The Color Purple
2. You’ve Got Mail
3. French Kiss
4. When Harry Met Sally
I Have Lived in:
1. Houston, Texas
2. St. Petersburg, FL (one summer)
Four TV Shows I Love to Watch:
1. Oprah (only show I watch every day because I really don’t watch TV)
2. Sex in the City
3. Friends (when I have time)
4. Seinfeld (when I remember to watch it or have time)
Places I Have Been on Vacation:
1. Mexico- several places
2. New York
3. Italy
4. Spain
5. France
6. Switzerland
7. Germany
8. California (LA, Fresno)
9. Grand Canyon
10. Las Vegas (as a kid so it doesn’t really count)
11. Chicago
12. Miami (conference once and passing through another)
13. Orlando, FL
14. Boston
Four Websites I Visit Daily:
1. Alisa Valdes Rodriguez’s blog
2. Gwen’s Blog
3. chron.com
4. Kyra Davis’ blog
There are others I visit but I visit these 4 every day.
Favorite Foods:
1. Vietnamese
2. Thai
3. Sushi
4. Mexican- Various
5. Calamari
6. Penne Pasta and anything
7. Greek Salad
8. Middle Eastern food
Four Places I would rather be:
1. On a cruise with no children this time (ha!)
2. In NYC (in 2 weeks!)
3. In a plaza in Spain sipping sangria
4. In a wonderful art museum any where!
Four People I Am Tagging With This Meme:
1. Rey
2. Rosy
3. Hannah
4. Becky
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)