Dear Reader,
It's almost 11pm here, and I never stay up this late anymore during the week. I had a really chaotic day at work today, and Mom is making some arepas. They are corn meal, full of cheese (since that's how we do it in Bogota) and fried. It's such a comfort food. It's also high in starch, and some family member are prone to get heart burn from it. To avoid that, drink chocolate milk with your arepa.
The end.
13 May 2010
04 May 2010
We love our murals
Dear Reader,
Today I am texting this post from a remote location in the Latin Hood. I work here 37.5 hrs a week and it's fun. Not only is it an office full of kind individuals, but it's pretty. It's a Latino company, and all I can say is, me encanta. One thing I love about our office is that we don't use "fall asleep paint " on our walls. No, we have murals. In my office we have a mural of women at various stages in their lives. Downstairs we have all sorts of murals about unity, community, and familial love. I'm thankful I can work in a pretty office.
Today I am texting this post from a remote location in the Latin Hood. I work here 37.5 hrs a week and it's fun. Not only is it an office full of kind individuals, but it's pretty. It's a Latino company, and all I can say is, me encanta. One thing I love about our office is that we don't use "fall asleep paint " on our walls. No, we have murals. In my office we have a mural of women at various stages in their lives. Downstairs we have all sorts of murals about unity, community, and familial love. I'm thankful I can work in a pretty office.
21 April 2010
Thy Will Be Done
Dear Reader,
How old were you when you 1st lived on your own? I've never lived anywhere on my own, unless you count my month-long mission trip to Germany/Poland. However, circumstances being what they are, my job is here, my car payments are here, and my parents think it would be beneficial to my career if I stay here for a year. Here! Where there is snow. Here! Where there are a lack of single men. Here! Where I don't want to live. Here! Where the powers that be hate my family for no good reason. So, I'm going to be praying that God will have His way. Because, I remember not wanting to go to Germany for missions four years ago. But I obeyed the call God had on my life, and it was one of the best experiences of my life. I need to get to a place where I'm writing again. I need to see my brother free. And now, I need to go apartment shopping. What do you need?
WHAT I'M WORKING ON:
1.) Having faith that God's got everything under control.
WHAT I'M READING:
1.) Galatians.
2.) Kristin Billerbeck's 3rd Spa Girl's novel.
WHAT YOU CAN PRAY FOR ME:
1.) That everything goes well for my brother on Wednesday.
WHATS ON MY iPOD:
1.) The Village Church podcast
How old were you when you 1st lived on your own? I've never lived anywhere on my own, unless you count my month-long mission trip to Germany/Poland. However, circumstances being what they are, my job is here, my car payments are here, and my parents think it would be beneficial to my career if I stay here for a year. Here! Where there is snow. Here! Where there are a lack of single men. Here! Where I don't want to live. Here! Where the powers that be hate my family for no good reason. So, I'm going to be praying that God will have His way. Because, I remember not wanting to go to Germany for missions four years ago. But I obeyed the call God had on my life, and it was one of the best experiences of my life. I need to get to a place where I'm writing again. I need to see my brother free. And now, I need to go apartment shopping. What do you need?
WHAT I'M WORKING ON:
1.) Having faith that God's got everything under control.
WHAT I'M READING:
1.) Galatians.
2.) Kristin Billerbeck's 3rd Spa Girl's novel.
WHAT YOU CAN PRAY FOR ME:
1.) That everything goes well for my brother on Wednesday.
WHATS ON MY iPOD:
1.) The Village Church podcast
14 April 2010
Prayer is talking to Jesus
Dear Reader,
Life hurts a lot more than I thought it would when I was a kid, a teenager and even a college student. I'm in the real grown-up world and I have been for a year and 4 months now. Some days I keep hoping that Prince Charming will ride up and save the day, but life doesn't work like that. At least not in my experience. I sincerely think that that is because God wants me to rely on Jesus, and not the hope of some man-savior. And in my head I know that, but I still have those habits of hoping a guy will pull over and help me when my car breaks down, instead of honking at me and going on his way while a homeless guy shakes his cigar in my face and tells me how crappy life is. Anyway, I haven't written like I should lately. Not even on my novel that I'm supposed to be editing. I just need for it to go well on Monday. I need my brother to come home. Life feels unfair without him at home where he should be. Learning how to drive. Making dreams into plans.
WHAT I'M WORKING ON:
1.) Having faith that God's got everything under control.
WHAT I'M READING:
1.) Galatians.
2.) Kristin Billerbeck's 3rd Spa Girl's novel.
WHAT YOU CAN PRAY FOR ME:
1.) That everything goes well for my brother on Monday.
WHATS ON MY iPOD:
1.) Tu Reinas by Rojo
Life hurts a lot more than I thought it would when I was a kid, a teenager and even a college student. I'm in the real grown-up world and I have been for a year and 4 months now. Some days I keep hoping that Prince Charming will ride up and save the day, but life doesn't work like that. At least not in my experience. I sincerely think that that is because God wants me to rely on Jesus, and not the hope of some man-savior. And in my head I know that, but I still have those habits of hoping a guy will pull over and help me when my car breaks down, instead of honking at me and going on his way while a homeless guy shakes his cigar in my face and tells me how crappy life is. Anyway, I haven't written like I should lately. Not even on my novel that I'm supposed to be editing. I just need for it to go well on Monday. I need my brother to come home. Life feels unfair without him at home where he should be. Learning how to drive. Making dreams into plans.
WHAT I'M WORKING ON:
1.) Having faith that God's got everything under control.
WHAT I'M READING:
1.) Galatians.
2.) Kristin Billerbeck's 3rd Spa Girl's novel.
WHAT YOU CAN PRAY FOR ME:
1.) That everything goes well for my brother on Monday.
WHATS ON MY iPOD:
1.) Tu Reinas by Rojo
27 March 2010
No Justice on Fridays I guess
Dear Reader,
Did you know that in the Juvenile Justice System a 70 yr old man can nod off during your trial and still convict you for a charge that you were not even accused of by the "victim" ? Yeah I didn't either. But that is what I just bore witness to yesterday. Its a sin. Now we have to try and figure out if it is appeal able. God help us when little girls with mental issues can run the justice system with NO PHYSICAL EVIDENCE whatsoever. Shit, they don't even need to stick to their story. They don't need dates, physical evidence, documentation or consistency. They just get to point their finger and laugh. I shudder when I think of all of the wanna-be Disney princesses running around this world like Salome and Potiphar's Wife.
WHAT I'M WORKING ON:
1.) Trying to learning enough about the law to help mi hermano.
WHAT I'M READING:
1.) verses about God being on the side of the innocent.
2.) Kristin Billerbeck's 2nd Spa Girl's novel.
WHAT YOU CAN PRAY FOR ME:
1.) That we find out how to help mi hermano.
WHATS ON MY iPOD:
1.) Revelation Song by Kari Jobe.
Did you know that in the Juvenile Justice System a 70 yr old man can nod off during your trial and still convict you for a charge that you were not even accused of by the "victim" ? Yeah I didn't either. But that is what I just bore witness to yesterday. Its a sin. Now we have to try and figure out if it is appeal able. God help us when little girls with mental issues can run the justice system with NO PHYSICAL EVIDENCE whatsoever. Shit, they don't even need to stick to their story. They don't need dates, physical evidence, documentation or consistency. They just get to point their finger and laugh. I shudder when I think of all of the wanna-be Disney princesses running around this world like Salome and Potiphar's Wife.
WHAT I'M WORKING ON:
1.) Trying to learning enough about the law to help mi hermano.
WHAT I'M READING:
1.) verses about God being on the side of the innocent.
2.) Kristin Billerbeck's 2nd Spa Girl's novel.
WHAT YOU CAN PRAY FOR ME:
1.) That we find out how to help mi hermano.
WHATS ON MY iPOD:
1.) Revelation Song by Kari Jobe.
23 March 2010
No scheme of man, can ever pluck me from His hand.
Dear Reader,
What scares you? One of my sister's today was telling me about a storyteller who came to her school and told ghost stories, they creep ed her out. My family has been facing giant disasters since the beginning of the new year and its stressful to say the least. Lately I have been struggling with the fact that there is nothing I can do to earn God's favor for the past 10 days. I've been saved since I was a little girl, and I know this in my head, but the very fact that I can't do ANYTHING to move our struggles along, to save us from liars with badges, makes me cry out to Jesus with new fever. I hope we win tomorrow despite all odds.
WHAT I'M WORKING ON:
1.) Not falling apart, I'm not doing so well.
WHAT I'M READING:
1.) verses about God being on the side of the innocent.
2.) Kristin Billerbeck's 2nd Spa Girl's novel. I hope to read Camy Tang's suspense books soon though, (yay Amazon!)
WHAT YOU CAN PRAY FOR ME:
1.) That we win tomorrow.
WHATS ON MY iPOD:
1.) In Christ Alone, as sung by Newsboys
What scares you? One of my sister's today was telling me about a storyteller who came to her school and told ghost stories, they creep ed her out. My family has been facing giant disasters since the beginning of the new year and its stressful to say the least. Lately I have been struggling with the fact that there is nothing I can do to earn God's favor for the past 10 days. I've been saved since I was a little girl, and I know this in my head, but the very fact that I can't do ANYTHING to move our struggles along, to save us from liars with badges, makes me cry out to Jesus with new fever. I hope we win tomorrow despite all odds.
WHAT I'M WORKING ON:
1.) Not falling apart, I'm not doing so well.
WHAT I'M READING:
1.) verses about God being on the side of the innocent.
2.) Kristin Billerbeck's 2nd Spa Girl's novel. I hope to read Camy Tang's suspense books soon though, (yay Amazon!)
WHAT YOU CAN PRAY FOR ME:
1.) That we win tomorrow.
WHATS ON MY iPOD:
1.) In Christ Alone, as sung by Newsboys
08 March 2010
Telenovelas & Jesus
Dear Reader,
Did you ever have a dream that seemed rediculous? I do. Its to publish 5 great selling novels and be on the writing team of one world famous Telenovela. Just one. A couple years ago I had an interview to work with TV guide en espanol. It made my week. Sadly I was 9 credits short of graduation and missed the second interview because I went to a college class instead. I still watch telenovelas when one comes on that catches my eye (they only last about 6 months), and wish that I could be the one who wrote them. Some are sexy, but I've seen a few that make you think more about that thing Jesus said about loving God, and loving others...Not the one I'm watching now, but there have been some in the past...
WHAT I'M WORKING ON:
1.) I'm really getting into Pues, No and I'm excited about where that's going. Each new writing project carries with it all the hopes of a new world, I suppose.
2.) I'm reading over "The Red Envelope" and trying to decide what stays and what goes in it. Its tougher than I thought.
WHAT I'M READING:
1.) The Gospel of Mark in the Bible with my brother and sister. We're on chapter 12
2.) "Chasing Harry Winston" by Lauren Weisberger. Its been about 6 months since I've read a secular novel. I have to say that one character curses and it threw me off at first, also so did another characters sarcastic comment about God. I like to read fiction that makes me want to study my Bible, and learn more about Jesus but every once in a while I buy a book in the Walmart book asle. Balance you know?
WHAT YOU CAN PRAY FOR ME:
1.) That my house sells.
WHATS ON MY iPOD:
1.)Learning to fall by This Beautiful Republic.
Did you ever have a dream that seemed rediculous? I do. Its to publish 5 great selling novels and be on the writing team of one world famous Telenovela. Just one. A couple years ago I had an interview to work with TV guide en espanol. It made my week. Sadly I was 9 credits short of graduation and missed the second interview because I went to a college class instead. I still watch telenovelas when one comes on that catches my eye (they only last about 6 months), and wish that I could be the one who wrote them. Some are sexy, but I've seen a few that make you think more about that thing Jesus said about loving God, and loving others...Not the one I'm watching now, but there have been some in the past...
WHAT I'M WORKING ON:
1.) I'm really getting into Pues, No and I'm excited about where that's going. Each new writing project carries with it all the hopes of a new world, I suppose.
2.) I'm reading over "The Red Envelope" and trying to decide what stays and what goes in it. Its tougher than I thought.
WHAT I'M READING:
1.) The Gospel of Mark in the Bible with my brother and sister. We're on chapter 12
2.) "Chasing Harry Winston" by Lauren Weisberger. Its been about 6 months since I've read a secular novel. I have to say that one character curses and it threw me off at first, also so did another characters sarcastic comment about God. I like to read fiction that makes me want to study my Bible, and learn more about Jesus but every once in a while I buy a book in the Walmart book asle. Balance you know?
WHAT YOU CAN PRAY FOR ME:
1.) That my house sells.
WHATS ON MY iPOD:
1.)Learning to fall by This Beautiful Republic.
05 March 2010
La Cosa es que...
Dear Reader,
So I loved reading Only Uni by Camy Tang again this week. If you haven't read it, fight your way over to amazon.com and buy it! It's simply lovely. I love it because it shows the real struggles of a Christian woman in a world that pulls against her every step of the way.
WHAT I'M WORKING ON:
1.) I recorded a bunch of scene on my voice memo on my iphone for my new book. For now, I'm calling it Pues, No but we'll see what title it ends up with in a year. I've named the four main characters: Vicky, Carmela, Maruja and Ariel.
2.) "The Red Envelope" is making me pull my hair out but at least I'm working on it. The thing is, everyone in the town still wants to blame the hippy for the murder, but she's not guilty, (or is she?)
3.) I keep cutting out pictures for my historical novel.
WHAT I'M READING:
1.) She's All That (Spa Girls #1) by Kristin Billerbeck.
WHAT YOU CAN PRAY FOR ME:
1.) That our house sells.
WHAT'S ON MY iPOD:
1.) Now it Moves by Salvador.
So I loved reading Only Uni by Camy Tang again this week. If you haven't read it, fight your way over to amazon.com and buy it! It's simply lovely. I love it because it shows the real struggles of a Christian woman in a world that pulls against her every step of the way.
WHAT I'M WORKING ON:
1.) I recorded a bunch of scene on my voice memo on my iphone for my new book. For now, I'm calling it Pues, No but we'll see what title it ends up with in a year. I've named the four main characters: Vicky, Carmela, Maruja and Ariel.
2.) "The Red Envelope" is making me pull my hair out but at least I'm working on it. The thing is, everyone in the town still wants to blame the hippy for the murder, but she's not guilty, (or is she?)
3.) I keep cutting out pictures for my historical novel.
WHAT I'M READING:
1.) She's All That (Spa Girls #1) by Kristin Billerbeck.
WHAT YOU CAN PRAY FOR ME:
1.) That our house sells.
WHAT'S ON MY iPOD:
1.) Now it Moves by Salvador.
28 February 2010
Warrior Child
Dear Reader,
I know over the course of the last year this blog has under gone a number of changes, from mediocre book reviews, to letting you pick what books I read to weeks of non-posting. All I can say is that I'm happy that you've stopped by my corner of the web once again, or for the first time.
WHAT I'M WORKING ON:
1.)I'm going to be trying to finish editing my first book "The Red Envelope" this week.
2.)I am also hoping to have more outlined for my Christian Chica Lit book. I call it that but its not ghetto or stupid like a lot of books targeted towards Hispanics are. Its about four Hispanic girls in their mid 20s who just want to have fun and live a good life.
3.) I'm also working on an historical novel centered around a family leaving Spain for Florida during the Napoleonic Wars. I love this era of history, but I'm having trouble actually writing it. I've had two false starts already.
WHAT I'M READING:
1.) Only Uni by Camy Tang. I read it last year, but I still love it so I'm reading it again.
2.) Spa Girls No. 1 by Kristin Billerbeck. It is supposed to arrive this week, and I'm super excited.
WHAT YOU CAN PRAY FOR:
1.) That our house sells.
WHAT'S ON MY IPOD:
1.) Warrior Child by Tal&Acacia.
I know over the course of the last year this blog has under gone a number of changes, from mediocre book reviews, to letting you pick what books I read to weeks of non-posting. All I can say is that I'm happy that you've stopped by my corner of the web once again, or for the first time.
WHAT I'M WORKING ON:
1.)I'm going to be trying to finish editing my first book "The Red Envelope" this week.
2.)I am also hoping to have more outlined for my Christian Chica Lit book. I call it that but its not ghetto or stupid like a lot of books targeted towards Hispanics are. Its about four Hispanic girls in their mid 20s who just want to have fun and live a good life.
3.) I'm also working on an historical novel centered around a family leaving Spain for Florida during the Napoleonic Wars. I love this era of history, but I'm having trouble actually writing it. I've had two false starts already.
WHAT I'M READING:
1.) Only Uni by Camy Tang. I read it last year, but I still love it so I'm reading it again.
2.) Spa Girls No. 1 by Kristin Billerbeck. It is supposed to arrive this week, and I'm super excited.
WHAT YOU CAN PRAY FOR:
1.) That our house sells.
WHAT'S ON MY IPOD:
1.) Warrior Child by Tal&Acacia.
09 December 2009
It's late, but Les Miserables is the best novel ever written.
This week has been a crappy one. Loss of job (and thereby income), average GRE scores (much lower than my target score), loneliness, stress of getting 12 Christmas gifts for loved one, stress of getting into grad school, stress of finding a new job. . . I could go on but I've pretty much been stressed out about my future, even though I KNOW that God has a plan for my life.
It just so happens that I noticed my favorite book Les Miserables by Victor Hugo on my bookshelf last Friday. And it just so happens that I picked it up after a decade of not reading it, and it just so happens that I fell in love with it all over again.
It is the best book ever written. It shows how one good deed done not for the sake of man, but for God can have repercussions that span generations. That is, a middle-aged newly released prisioner comes into a new town, is turned away from everyone in town except for the local priest. The local priest takes him in, and, when stolen from reacts in love, giving him the items that were stolen.
This stirs the man, who sets out to make a good, pious life for himself. Ever present in front of the man are his failures, his sins. He seeks out to act rightly and does so. In the process he takes in Cosette. The little orphan girl grows up and is raised to love and revere God, the church and her father. And through a glance, she falls in love.
I don't know why the story of Cosette and Marius moves me so much. They are youths, he 20 and she 16 when they fall in love. He a historian-lawyer-rebel and she a quiet daughter. They exchange glances at the park and he pursues her. When the insurrection of 1832 causes them to be separated, the father brings them back together.
Jean Valjean is my favorite character now. Back when I was 15, I thought Marius was the best. However, now I see that Jean Valjean is the best character because he truly shows not only what it means to be redeemed, and reconciled with Christ, but what it means to love.
Its late and this isn't well written, but Jean Valjean gives up his own security so that his adopted daughter may be loved. That is an example what Christ has done for each of us. It is completely laudable. One day I will have to write a better review on this masterpiece of fiction.
It just so happens that I noticed my favorite book Les Miserables by Victor Hugo on my bookshelf last Friday. And it just so happens that I picked it up after a decade of not reading it, and it just so happens that I fell in love with it all over again.
It is the best book ever written. It shows how one good deed done not for the sake of man, but for God can have repercussions that span generations. That is, a middle-aged newly released prisioner comes into a new town, is turned away from everyone in town except for the local priest. The local priest takes him in, and, when stolen from reacts in love, giving him the items that were stolen.
This stirs the man, who sets out to make a good, pious life for himself. Ever present in front of the man are his failures, his sins. He seeks out to act rightly and does so. In the process he takes in Cosette. The little orphan girl grows up and is raised to love and revere God, the church and her father. And through a glance, she falls in love.
I don't know why the story of Cosette and Marius moves me so much. They are youths, he 20 and she 16 when they fall in love. He a historian-lawyer-rebel and she a quiet daughter. They exchange glances at the park and he pursues her. When the insurrection of 1832 causes them to be separated, the father brings them back together.
Jean Valjean is my favorite character now. Back when I was 15, I thought Marius was the best. However, now I see that Jean Valjean is the best character because he truly shows not only what it means to be redeemed, and reconciled with Christ, but what it means to love.
Its late and this isn't well written, but Jean Valjean gives up his own security so that his adopted daughter may be loved. That is an example what Christ has done for each of us. It is completely laudable. One day I will have to write a better review on this masterpiece of fiction.
27 October 2009
National Novel Writing Month
November is one of my favorite months of the year. Its the anniversary of when my grandparents came to this country, its the anniversary of when a lot of my family became believers, its Thanksgiving, its one of my sister's birthday, and its National Novel Writing month.
I heard about this a number of years ago, and try and participate everyyear. I'm not to great with getting 50,000 words in in one month, but it's great practice. Anyway, my piece this year is that historical fiction thing I've been meaning to try and write for years. I made a collage to help me get a handle on all of my ideas, so there it is. I hope I actually finish it!
Additionally, here is a prayer written by the Patron Saint of journalists and writers:
"Lord, I am Yours, and I must belong to no one but You.
My soul is Yours, and must live only by You.
My will is Yours, and must love only for You.
I must love You as my first cause, since I am from You.
I must love You as my end and rest, since I am for You.
I must love You more than my own being, since my being subsists by You.
I must love You more than myself, since I am all Yours and all in You. Amen."
-Prayer of St Francis De Sales
I heard about this a number of years ago, and try and participate everyyear. I'm not to great with getting 50,000 words in in one month, but it's great practice. Anyway, my piece this year is that historical fiction thing I've been meaning to try and write for years. I made a collage to help me get a handle on all of my ideas, so there it is. I hope I actually finish it!
Additionally, here is a prayer written by the Patron Saint of journalists and writers:
"Lord, I am Yours, and I must belong to no one but You.
My soul is Yours, and must live only by You.
My will is Yours, and must love only for You.
I must love You as my first cause, since I am from You.
I must love You as my end and rest, since I am for You.
I must love You more than my own being, since my being subsists by You.
I must love You more than myself, since I am all Yours and all in You. Amen."
-Prayer of St Francis De Sales
20 October 2009
Weddings and Murder
So over this weekend I babysat and read Melody Carlson's "Three Weddings and a Bar Mitzvah." This book is the final book in the 4 books series 86 Bloomsberg Place. In my opinion, it was one of the strongest in the series. Lelani and Gil are getting married, Gil's sister Ana is having difficulties at work and in love, her housemate Megan's boyfriend just up and leaves her for a mission trip to Africa with next to no notice, and crazy Kendall is marrying her Maui Man. Throughout the whole book the girls struggle with patience and communicating (in life who doesn't)? I believe that many Church pew Christians will identify with Megan and Ana, while many of those trying to figure out how to balance life will identify with Kendall and Lelani.
For my self it was a hard book to read, simply because I began this series a year or so ago while in a dating relationship, and ended up reading the last book of this series single, with no prospects at all. I think I most closely identified with Ana, although my mother and I have a wonderful relationship. I kind of wish that there would be a spin off series with Ana, Megan and their men. I could go on, but I'll just shut up and give Mrs. Carlson a Gold Star!
As for "Midnight in Madrid" by Noel Hynd, this is the type of novel that I would relate more too in away because I am single. Although it kind of makes me glad I'm single. Single people can go off and have adventures while those married are tied to their apartment and responsibilities. In the first book, Alex LaDuca loses someone who she loves with her life, and in the second book she is on vacation recovering from said loss when artistic disaster strikes. The suspense kept me turning pages every night this weekend and made me wish I had mastered all of the languages I took in college. Many murders later, we realize that Alex might just be ok after all. Gold Star Mr. Hynd for a novel that was as entertaining as it was encouraging.
Both of these novels show that love changes us. God's love is there all along, and sometimes he brings godly men into our lives to love, and sometimes he doesn't bring a spouse, but a people we care deeply for. Either way, God's love sets us free.
For my self it was a hard book to read, simply because I began this series a year or so ago while in a dating relationship, and ended up reading the last book of this series single, with no prospects at all. I think I most closely identified with Ana, although my mother and I have a wonderful relationship. I kind of wish that there would be a spin off series with Ana, Megan and their men. I could go on, but I'll just shut up and give Mrs. Carlson a Gold Star!
As for "Midnight in Madrid" by Noel Hynd, this is the type of novel that I would relate more too in away because I am single. Although it kind of makes me glad I'm single. Single people can go off and have adventures while those married are tied to their apartment and responsibilities. In the first book, Alex LaDuca loses someone who she loves with her life, and in the second book she is on vacation recovering from said loss when artistic disaster strikes. The suspense kept me turning pages every night this weekend and made me wish I had mastered all of the languages I took in college. Many murders later, we realize that Alex might just be ok after all. Gold Star Mr. Hynd for a novel that was as entertaining as it was encouraging.
Both of these novels show that love changes us. God's love is there all along, and sometimes he brings godly men into our lives to love, and sometimes he doesn't bring a spouse, but a people we care deeply for. Either way, God's love sets us free.
13 October 2009
High School Humiliation week & books
So Anne and May, those lovely ladies who wrote A LITTLE HELP FROM MY FRIENDS asked people what their most humiliating moments were in high school. Well, I thought about it for 2 days and then this morning it came to me, and I was even more embarrassed. Notice the picture, its me 15, in 10th grade at my surprise quinceanera. Notice I'm not wearing a lame gown. That was 2001.
You see, my sister and I used to take the bus. I used to sit next to a cute kid who I didn't think was "Christian" enough to date. We became bus-buddies though & I guess you could say and he always knew who I was crushing on and resented them for it. As it happens, a family from my church, took in a foreign exchange student from Ecuador (this is not to be confused with the foreign exchange student from my freshman year Spanish class I mentioned on Camy Tangs website). This boy was tall, way cute, and an upperclassman. He often wore a jean jacket, a white sweater and was the Antonio Banderas version of Eric Matthews from Boy Meets World (in my humble opinion).
Anyway, so 10th grade was the year I was all into poetry, ok, I was always into poetry. Well, I wrote him a poem. and I showed it to my bus-buddy. I didn't title it or anything, and all I remember are the lines, "Hero from across the sea, came to sit in front of me." Yeah, it was that bad. Bus-buddy laughed, and then stood up and said "Hey Eric Banderas (I can't remember his real name), Mandy wrote a poem about you!"
I tore it out of his hands, but for the rest of the ride home it was "Oooo your eyes are so dark and dreamy," or "oooo your my latin lover from across the ocean."
So there you have it. One of my most humiliating moments in high school. I have a bunch, though, and most involved foreigner exchangers. Oh and this week we're reading: Midnight in Madrid by Noel Hynd
05 October 2009
Do you cry when a character in a book dies?
Ok so this weekend I read Noel Hynd's novel "Conspiracy in Kiev" as you'll note from my last post. And while there was no sex (yay I won the bet!) there was a lot of flirting and bantering back and forth between characters. There were jealous boyfriend's, and jealous Ukrainian mobsters...and death. I mean you have to have death in a political/spy thriller right? I expected certain characters to die, or be kidnapped, but of course Mr. Hynd pulls a fast one on me. A totally unsuspected death in the novel.
And the most surprising thing out of the whole day was not that one character died. No, no, the most surprising thing to me was the fact that when I came home from bringing James (a 4 month old we have in our home now) from the doctor, my sister was up in our room all emotional about a character who died in a series she was reading! And since I hadn't yet read the death of the character in Hynd's novel, I was a jerk. I mean my sister is reading a YA series, Cirque du Freak or something like that and is almost done the series. A major character dies. All day she was complaining, "How could the author do this?" And of course I have to be a professional jerk and say, "Well you know, authors are really thinking of the story arc and character development and how could this one character develop if this other character was holding his hand the whole time?"
Is it silly to cry over fake people? See, I view it this way: we will never know the lives of FBI guys or Secret Service or CIA people, so in a way, when I get upset over the death of a character in a novel, I'm thinking: there is a chance that one of these patriots has died like this or in a similar way; and: isn't the world so unfair?
This is only one of the many reasons why my mother only reads memoirs and biographies. When she gets upset over characters in books, she wants it to be real people she has learned about and formed an attachment too, not fake people.
I give this book a Gold Star, not only for the emotional response it invoked, but because of a particular character's faith in God and the theme of long-suffering through out the novel. Bravo!
And the most surprising thing out of the whole day was not that one character died. No, no, the most surprising thing to me was the fact that when I came home from bringing James (a 4 month old we have in our home now) from the doctor, my sister was up in our room all emotional about a character who died in a series she was reading! And since I hadn't yet read the death of the character in Hynd's novel, I was a jerk. I mean my sister is reading a YA series, Cirque du Freak or something like that and is almost done the series. A major character dies. All day she was complaining, "How could the author do this?" And of course I have to be a professional jerk and say, "Well you know, authors are really thinking of the story arc and character development and how could this one character develop if this other character was holding his hand the whole time?"
Is it silly to cry over fake people? See, I view it this way: we will never know the lives of FBI guys or Secret Service or CIA people, so in a way, when I get upset over the death of a character in a novel, I'm thinking: there is a chance that one of these patriots has died like this or in a similar way; and: isn't the world so unfair?
This is only one of the many reasons why my mother only reads memoirs and biographies. When she gets upset over characters in books, she wants it to be real people she has learned about and formed an attachment too, not fake people.
I give this book a Gold Star, not only for the emotional response it invoked, but because of a particular character's faith in God and the theme of long-suffering through out the novel. Bravo!
23 September 2009
I forgot it was Hispanic Heritage Month
SO I COMPLETELY FORGOT ABOUT HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH.
To be fair, as a month it was only instituted in 1988 but no one really cared until1996, which mean that at the end of my elementary experience, someone in Washington made noise about a formerly passed law, which made teachers and the media have to start incorporating what it means to be Hispanic into their lesson plans and the media. This sounds like a great idea right? Well the problem with this is that very few teachers in the schools I went to knew about this proclamation from Washington. Or if they did they were a) the ESL teacher (a class I was NOT in) or b) the Spanish teacher (who spoke Spanish with an Italian accent that made it different for certain native speakers to understand her). Needless to say, its understandable why I would forget that September is Hispanic Heritage month.
I often say my family hails from 2 countries in Latin America. Cuba. Colombia. When people ask me what my background is, they usually assume I'll say Sicily or Italy or something to that nature. Usually I just smile and say "No, I'm Cuban-Colombian." What follows next is the most insulting remark ever: "You don't LOOK Latino." I smile and shrug and say "Well you know."
What I'm thinking is this: Latin America is very diverse. Hispanics (I prefer this term over Latino) are usually made up of former inhabitants of the Iberian peninsula, the Netherlands (remember Spain used to own them) and even some Germans and Austrians, in some places the decedents of indigenous peoples and along the coastal regions, Africans.
Anyway, I thought about what do so that's special about this month, but really, I am Hispanic, I live it out each day with out effort since its my way of life, so what's to celebrate? I think there should be a Christian Heritage Month because that would give me something more challenging to live out. But maybe I'll hop on over to Babalu blog and check in on the Cuban-American news?
(book reviews resume next week).
To be fair, as a month it was only instituted in 1988 but no one really cared until1996, which mean that at the end of my elementary experience, someone in Washington made noise about a formerly passed law, which made teachers and the media have to start incorporating what it means to be Hispanic into their lesson plans and the media. This sounds like a great idea right? Well the problem with this is that very few teachers in the schools I went to knew about this proclamation from Washington. Or if they did they were a) the ESL teacher (a class I was NOT in) or b) the Spanish teacher (who spoke Spanish with an Italian accent that made it different for certain native speakers to understand her). Needless to say, its understandable why I would forget that September is Hispanic Heritage month.
I often say my family hails from 2 countries in Latin America. Cuba. Colombia. When people ask me what my background is, they usually assume I'll say Sicily or Italy or something to that nature. Usually I just smile and say "No, I'm Cuban-Colombian." What follows next is the most insulting remark ever: "You don't LOOK Latino." I smile and shrug and say "Well you know."
What I'm thinking is this: Latin America is very diverse. Hispanics (I prefer this term over Latino) are usually made up of former inhabitants of the Iberian peninsula, the Netherlands (remember Spain used to own them) and even some Germans and Austrians, in some places the decedents of indigenous peoples and along the coastal regions, Africans.
Anyway, I thought about what do so that's special about this month, but really, I am Hispanic, I live it out each day with out effort since its my way of life, so what's to celebrate? I think there should be a Christian Heritage Month because that would give me something more challenging to live out. But maybe I'll hop on over to Babalu blog and check in on the Cuban-American news?
(book reviews resume next week).
15 September 2009
Day of Three Novels
Ok so this was an eventful weekend! What with doing laundry and eating brunch with the family and...PROTESTORS MARCHING ON WASHINGTON. Between that, and Taylor Swift getting dissed, oh, and the Princeton Jazz Festival...Is it any wonder I had a case of the Mondays yesterday?
Anyway, true to my word I'm sitting here prepared to review two novels for you this week. Well, actually three. Melody Carlson's FINAL Diary of a Teenage Girl book came out over the weekend and I had to snatch it up. So let me start there!
Maya Stark is a bi-racial girl struggling to follow Jesus. In the third book of her series she is a high school senior dealing with her African-American Father's music legacy and her Caucasian mother's absence. She is still living with her uncle, and still being "just friends" with her man Dominique. Melody Carlson really out does her self here. Maya does things against the grain in this story (hard to describe without giving much away) but she stays true to who God made her to be, and in the end, realizes that what matters most is creating a home with those God has given to you to love. Gold Star Melody!
Secondly I have Names My Sisters Call Me by Megan Crane. This book is a delightful easy read for those of us who adore novels set in Philadelphia. What I loved most about this novel was not the protagonist or her family, (which I believe was kind of the point) but her fiance and best friend who were there to tell her the hard truth about her self and her world. It really took a good look at what it meant to be a "real" artist in this world. Silver Star Megan Crane!
Finally, I have to review This Side of Married. I think the error I made here was reading two novels written for women about family relationships in Philadelphia. This one seemed forced and lacked a lot of the natural charm that the other one hard. The mother seems heavy-handed and old fashioned in her desire to married off her daughters and have them make babies just to inherit some dishes. It was enjoyable enough and well written enough that I rate it with a PASS but I wouldn't recommend it.
Next week.... "This Side of Paradise" by F. Scott Fitzgerald and "Prophet" by Frank Perretti.
Anyway, true to my word I'm sitting here prepared to review two novels for you this week. Well, actually three. Melody Carlson's FINAL Diary of a Teenage Girl book came out over the weekend and I had to snatch it up. So let me start there!
Maya Stark is a bi-racial girl struggling to follow Jesus. In the third book of her series she is a high school senior dealing with her African-American Father's music legacy and her Caucasian mother's absence. She is still living with her uncle, and still being "just friends" with her man Dominique. Melody Carlson really out does her self here. Maya does things against the grain in this story (hard to describe without giving much away) but she stays true to who God made her to be, and in the end, realizes that what matters most is creating a home with those God has given to you to love. Gold Star Melody!
Secondly I have Names My Sisters Call Me by Megan Crane. This book is a delightful easy read for those of us who adore novels set in Philadelphia. What I loved most about this novel was not the protagonist or her family, (which I believe was kind of the point) but her fiance and best friend who were there to tell her the hard truth about her self and her world. It really took a good look at what it meant to be a "real" artist in this world. Silver Star Megan Crane!
Finally, I have to review This Side of Married. I think the error I made here was reading two novels written for women about family relationships in Philadelphia. This one seemed forced and lacked a lot of the natural charm that the other one hard. The mother seems heavy-handed and old fashioned in her desire to married off her daughters and have them make babies just to inherit some dishes. It was enjoyable enough and well written enough that I rate it with a PASS but I wouldn't recommend it.
Next week.... "This Side of Paradise" by F. Scott Fitzgerald and "Prophet" by Frank Perretti.
07 September 2009
Puddle Wonderful Days
Whenever I am in a super happy mood, I quote e.e.cummings. Specifically his poem about when the world was puddle wonderful. That fully describes the weekend I had, relaxing after an exhausting week at work, then going to my grandfather's 70th birthday party. God is beautiful and he creates beautiful lives.
Anyway, this past week I have been taking my lunch in the local shops around olde city, and I've been reading "Vintage Jesus" by Mark Driscoll and Gary Breshears. I went to a Christian elementary and middle school before being thrust into the wide world of public high school and a public university. I read C.S.Lewis in high school, and wandered around in emerging type books in college, so this book was a call back to true faith for me, a soul-brace if you will. It made me want to study the Bible again, not just take whatever popular "Christian" belief is out there. The chapter I liked best was about Jesus' resurrection. I would sub-title it "The common man's apologetics" because its more readable to most people than C.S.Lewis and its contemporary to our time. Gold Star for Driscoll and Bresheares.
Next week: "Names my sisters call me" and "This side of Married"
Anyway, this past week I have been taking my lunch in the local shops around olde city, and I've been reading "Vintage Jesus" by Mark Driscoll and Gary Breshears. I went to a Christian elementary and middle school before being thrust into the wide world of public high school and a public university. I read C.S.Lewis in high school, and wandered around in emerging type books in college, so this book was a call back to true faith for me, a soul-brace if you will. It made me want to study the Bible again, not just take whatever popular "Christian" belief is out there. The chapter I liked best was about Jesus' resurrection. I would sub-title it "The common man's apologetics" because its more readable to most people than C.S.Lewis and its contemporary to our time. Gold Star for Driscoll and Bresheares.
Next week: "Names my sisters call me" and "This side of Married"
24 August 2009
Now Showing...
I went to see the Broadway musical "Chicago" with my sister on my last night in New York. Balcony seats. It was marvelous, even if Jerry Springer was playing the lawyer Billy Flynn. I loved the whole experience. Although it bothers me that no one dresses up to go to the theater any more, not to the nines, especially those in the cheap seats, like we were. My sister and I were raised to wear black to the theater, so if you have to get up in the middle of the performance, you're not noticable (My family is big on theater, books and movies). Anyway, people were in sundresses, which is ok, you made an effort, but jeans-shorts? Come on. Respect the arts. They put in hours of practice into it, I think you can look a little bit nice in return, right?
Anyway, in other news, my books came in the mail!!! I'm very excited to read "Little Earthquakes" by Jennifer Weiner, "This Side of Married" by Rachel Pastan, and "Vintage Jesus" by Mark Driscoll this week. The first two are lighthearted reads that use the city of Philadelphia as their setting while the third book is a book about Jesus. I'll have a review for you next week on how they went!
And hopefully I'll have heard about Milwaukee by next Tuesday.
Anyway, in other news, my books came in the mail!!! I'm very excited to read "Little Earthquakes" by Jennifer Weiner, "This Side of Married" by Rachel Pastan, and "Vintage Jesus" by Mark Driscoll this week. The first two are lighthearted reads that use the city of Philadelphia as their setting while the third book is a book about Jesus. I'll have a review for you next week on how they went!
And hopefully I'll have heard about Milwaukee by next Tuesday.
08 July 2009
Everyday Life
So I'm sitting here after work and I am watching "The Wedding Singer." It has been on TV twice since I've come to stay here. All I have to say is I can't believe Billy Idol is in this movie! I always forget what other songs he has done.
Speaking of good stories, I like the story of Ruth. I led an indepth Bible study on the book of Ruth about two years ago. Do you know much about Ruth? Ruth was a Moabite. The Moabites are the descendants of Lot and one of his daughters (Lot was Abraham's nephew).
The Bible in my classroom at work upsets me because its introduction is so clearly written by a stone-cold scholar! The man (surely it is a man) says in the introduction to the book, "The peaceful story of Ruth comes between two violent books of the Bible." I didn't read much further than that to be honest because I disagree! Peaceful book?? How can you say that? Ruth married as a teenager, bore no children, and ten years later was widowed. Which means that she if she married at the usual age (between 12 and 18) then she would be a widow during her 20s! That cannot be a peaceful story! That is tragic!" It reminds me of a Bible version of P.S. I Love You. She spent ten of her "best" years with one guy and now society is telling her she's past her expiration date.
It seems God has wanted me to hear about Ruth and Naomi and how they stuck to God during the hard times. I'm not really sure why, as I'm pretty happy right at this moment, but--get this--when I left Philly I was bummed that I would be missing out on the summer sermon series of Ruth. So then I come to Bethany and BAM! they are just starting the sermon series on Ruth. Then in my devotional, the theme for July is "God in everyday life". So my question goes out to you bloggers, where do you see God intervining in your every day life?
Speaking of good stories, I like the story of Ruth. I led an indepth Bible study on the book of Ruth about two years ago. Do you know much about Ruth? Ruth was a Moabite. The Moabites are the descendants of Lot and one of his daughters (Lot was Abraham's nephew).
The Bible in my classroom at work upsets me because its introduction is so clearly written by a stone-cold scholar! The man (surely it is a man) says in the introduction to the book, "The peaceful story of Ruth comes between two violent books of the Bible." I didn't read much further than that to be honest because I disagree! Peaceful book?? How can you say that? Ruth married as a teenager, bore no children, and ten years later was widowed. Which means that she if she married at the usual age (between 12 and 18) then she would be a widow during her 20s! That cannot be a peaceful story! That is tragic!" It reminds me of a Bible version of P.S. I Love You. She spent ten of her "best" years with one guy and now society is telling her she's past her expiration date.
It seems God has wanted me to hear about Ruth and Naomi and how they stuck to God during the hard times. I'm not really sure why, as I'm pretty happy right at this moment, but--get this--when I left Philly I was bummed that I would be missing out on the summer sermon series of Ruth. So then I come to Bethany and BAM! they are just starting the sermon series on Ruth. Then in my devotional, the theme for July is "God in everyday life". So my question goes out to you bloggers, where do you see God intervining in your every day life?
23 June 2009
Day of Babyfingers
So I am living with my Uncle, Aunt, their baby, my maternal Grandfather and maternal Grandmother for the summer (not the ones from the last blog entry). All in one house. I am working as the Art Instructor at a school Monday thru Thursday. I am enjoying it a lot. I'm actually surprised.
Most of all, there is my baby cousin. She is 1 year and one month and I wish I had a recent photo to put up but I don't.
Anyway so tonight at dinner she pinched me! Hard! Her little baby fingers are so sharp and she gives the teeny-est, tiny-est pinches that hurt super bad.
And did I mention her baby kisses? She gives these weird open mouthed kisses that are more like being licked by a puppy than really getting a little kiss. It will be a cute embarrassing story for her future first boyfriend-when she's 30.
In other news, I am only 30 pages away from completing my mystery novel. Let's all raise a cheer! It's weird though. I'm kind of scared that when I give the 2nd half of the revised copy the small publisher won't think its good. And if he does, and we work to get it published, what if I can't write another good story? This novel was fun to write, but it was hard work too. And what's more is that the next novel I want to write is a historical mystery. I've been wanting to write one for a while but it just won't work out right. Tell me, dear reader, do you ever wonder what it's like to see your goal only footsteps away? Do you hesitate or do you bull rush it?
Most of all, there is my baby cousin. She is 1 year and one month and I wish I had a recent photo to put up but I don't.
Anyway so tonight at dinner she pinched me! Hard! Her little baby fingers are so sharp and she gives the teeny-est, tiny-est pinches that hurt super bad.
And did I mention her baby kisses? She gives these weird open mouthed kisses that are more like being licked by a puppy than really getting a little kiss. It will be a cute embarrassing story for her future first boyfriend-when she's 30.
In other news, I am only 30 pages away from completing my mystery novel. Let's all raise a cheer! It's weird though. I'm kind of scared that when I give the 2nd half of the revised copy the small publisher won't think its good. And if he does, and we work to get it published, what if I can't write another good story? This novel was fun to write, but it was hard work too. And what's more is that the next novel I want to write is a historical mystery. I've been wanting to write one for a while but it just won't work out right. Tell me, dear reader, do you ever wonder what it's like to see your goal only footsteps away? Do you hesitate or do you bull rush it?
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